BANCROFT    LIBRARY 


B   CO'lfOiTE  ^T  OF 


THE 


CONQUEST  OF  CALIFORNIA 


AND 

NEW   MEXICO, 

BY  THE  FORCES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

IN  THE  YEARS  1846  &  1847. 
BY 

JAMES  MADISON  CUTTS. 

WITH    ENGRAVINGS,    PLANS    OF    BATTLE,     ETC. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED   BY  CAREY  &  HART. 
1847. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1847,  by 

CAREY   AND  HART, 
in  the  Clerk'i  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Eastern  District  of  PenniylTania, 


•nUOTTPKD  BT  L.  JOHNSON  XJID  CO. 

PHILADELPHIA. 
BT  T.   I.   A.1D   P.    O.   COLLINS. 


INTRODUCTION. 


THE  AUTHOR'S  PURPOSE. 

WHETHER  by  emigration  or  by  war- — by  conquest  or  by 
purchase — New  Mexico,  and  the  Calif ornias,  one  or  all,  are  to 
become  territories  of  the  United  States  of  North  America,  is 
no  part  of  this  work  to  discuss.  Their  geographical  position 
and  the  course  of  events  may  tend  to  this  result.  It  is,  how 
ever,  left  to  others  to  canvass  the  possibilities  or  probabilities, 
along  with  the  policy  of  such  consummation. 

A  general  outline  of  the  geography  of  these  countries, 
together  with  a  concise  and  continuous  narrative  of  recent 
military  and  naval  operations  connected  with  the  Conquest 
of  California  and  New  Mexico,  embodying  marches  and 
exploits  "  among  the  most  wonderful  of  the  age,"*  is  appa 
rently  demanded  by  their  romantic  and  "  almost  fabulous" 
interest,  as  well  as  by  the  universal  attention  bestowed  upon 
the  Mexican  war,  and  its  consequences. 

The  purpose  is  here  to  sketch  the  geographical  and  histo- 

*  Senator  Benton. 


INTRODUCTION. 


rical  outlines  with  entire  impartiality,  and  with  such  fidelity 
as  the  records  now  admit  of;  so  that  the  Public  may  have 
before  them  an  unpretending,  yet  useful  compendium.  At 
least,  such  is  the  Author's  only  design,  and  this  he  hopes  to 
accomplish  satisfactorily,  the  more  that  he  makes  no  literary 
pretensions,  and  that  it  must  be  obvious  to  all,  that  the  mate 
rials  of  history  are  not  sufficiently  developed  for  the  more 
studied  and  philosophical  research,  which  may  hereafter  oc 
cupy  the  minds  of  some  of  those  historians  of  whose  fame 
America  is  so  justly  proud. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

PAGK 

Historical  Summary  of  Mexico — National  Boundary — Departments  and 
Population — Yucatan  and  Texas — Mountains  and  Table-land  of  Mexico 
—Salubrity  —  Rivers — Lakes — Volcanoes — Harbours  —  Mixed  Races — 
Slavery — Commerce — Manufactures — Mines — Military  Force — Revenue 
—Debt  -  *  *  >  •  >*  -  -  -  -  .  .  .9 

CHAPTER   II. 

Geographical  Outline  of  California  and  New  Mexico        -        -        -         -     16 

CHAPTER   III. 

Principal  Military  and  Naval  events  of  the  Mexican  War,  antecedent  to 
and  cotemporaneous  with  the  operations  of  the  forces  in  California  and 
New  Mexico  *  •  »  • 29 

CHAPTER   IV. 

«  Army  of  the  West"— Purpose  of  the  greatest  importance — Gen.  Kearny 
— Orders  and  instructions  for  New  Mexico  and  Upper  California — Civil 
governments — Forces  organized  at  Fort  Leavenworth — Capture  of  Santa 
Fe — Proclamations,  &c. — Legislative  and  Executive  Action  thereon — 
Expedition — Fort — Treaties  with  Indians,  &c. — Orders  to  Col.  Doniphan, 
&c. — Marches  for  Upper  California 32 

CHAPTER   V. 

Combination  of  forces  employed  in  the  Conquest  of  California  and  New 
Mexico,  Military  and  Naval — Reinforcement  of  a  Regiment  and  of  a  Bat 
talion  of  Mounted  Volunteers,  under  Col.  Price,  to  «  Army  of  the  West" 
— Mormon  Battalion— Nauvoo  difficulties  and  emigrants — New  York 
Regiment  under  Col.  J.  D.  Stevenson — Capt.  C.  Q.  Tompkins's  Com 
pany  of  Third  Artillery — Orders  and  instructions — Co-operation  with  the 
Naval  forces — Col.  Mason — Departures  and  Arrivals — Unexpected  Co 
operation.  ......68 

A2  5 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

Colonel  Doniphan — Missouri  Volunteers — Command  at  Santa  F6— Orders 
Campaign  in  the  Navaho  country — March  on  Chihuahua — Route — Battle 
of  Brazito — El  Paso — Major  Clark's  artillery — Capt.  Weightman— Battle 
of  Sacramento — Occupation  of  the  City  of  Chihuahua — American  Traders 
— A  Lady — Orders  from  Gen.  Wool — Capt  Reid's  gallant  action  with 
Indians — Capital  of  Durango — Route  to  Saltillo — Gen.  Wool — Gen. 
Taylor  and  Trophies — Arrival  at  New  Orleans — Arrival  at  St  Louis — 
Enthusiastic  Reception — Senator  Benton's  Speech — Col.  Doniphan's 
reply  and  adieu  to  his  companions  in  arms  -  •  •  •  -  75 

CHAPTER   VII. 

Pacific  Squadron — Com.  Sloat — Any  Emergency — Distance  and  Difficulty 
of  Communication — Orders  and  Instructions — Operations  commenced — 
Bay  of  Monterey  occupied — Proclamation — Bay  of  San  Francisco— Capt. 
.Fremont — Enrolment  of  Militia — British  Man  of  War — Company  of 
Dragoons — Com.  Sloat  returns  to  the  United  States — Com.  Stockton — 
Operations  and  Despatches — Proclamation — Tariff  and  Civil  Government 
—Newspaper  established — Com.  Stockton  and  Fremont — Despatch — Fre 
mont  Governor — Insurrection— Los  Angeles — Santa  Barbara — Battle — 
Military  and  Naval  Operations — Settlements  and  Towns — Com.  Stock 
ton's  Despatches — Gen.  Kearny  and  Battles  of  Los  Angeles — Fremont 
and  Capitulation — Com.  Stockton — Gen.  Kearny  and  Col.  Fremont  meet 
at  Los  Angeles  and  separate — Com.  Shubrick  arrives — Capt.  Tompkins's 
Artillery,  and  Col.  Stevenson's  Regiment — Com.  Shubrick,  Gen.  Kearny 
and  Joint-Circular — Col.  Mason,  of  First  Dragoons,  Governor  and  Com 
mander-in-chief  of  the  Land  Forces — Gen.  Kearny,  Cora.  Stockton,  and 
Col.  Fremont  returns — American  flag  waves  over  California  -  -  -  103 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

Unexpected  and  gallant  movement — J.  Charles  Fremont — Scientific  ex 
ploration — Gen.  Castro  threatens — American  flag  hoisted — United  States 
Consul,  T.  O.  Larkin,  Esq. — Correspondence — Fremont's  note — With 
draws — The  country  raised — Attacked  by  Tlamath  Indians — Determi 
nation — Capture  of  Castro's  horses — Sonoma  surprised  and  taken — Pri 
soners — Fights  de  la  Torre — Men  cut  to  pieces  alive — Mexicans  shot — 
Declaration  of  Independence  and  War — Com.  Sloat — Pursues  Castro — 
Ordered  to  Monterey — Com.  Stockton  in  command — Major  of  California 
Mounted  Riflemen — Embarks  for  San  Diego— Joins  Com.  Stockton's 


CONTENTS. 


FAOX 

forces — Occupation  of  "  City  of  the  Angels" — Again  pursues  Castro— 
Capt.  Gillespie — Com.  Stockton  appoints  Fremont  Governor — Lieut.  Tal- 
bot— Com.  Stockton  officially  announces  the  capture  of  California — Cali- 
fornians  revolt — Los  Angeles  and  Santa  Barbara  evacuated — Fremont 
— March  on  Los  Angeles — Captures  and  pardons  Don  J.  Pico — Capitu 
lation — Previous  Battles  of  Gen.  Kearny  and  Com.  Stockton — Com. 
Stockton's  Despatches — Meeting  of  Fremont,  Stockton,  and  Kearny — 
Separate — Fremont  Governor  and  Commander-in-chief — His  Circular — 
Kit  Carson — Interviews  with  Com.  Shubrick  and  Gen.  Kearny — Adheres 
to  his  position — Fremont  returns  to  the  United  States.  ...  142 

CHAPTER   IX. 

Gen.  Kearny — Upper  California — Orders  and  Instructions — Departure  from 
Santa  F£ — Captain  Johnston's  Journal  of  the  March — Meets  Kit  Carson- 
March  renewed — Incidents  of  the  Journey — Visit  to  Copper- mines- 
Apaches — Aztec  Ruins — Casa  de  Montezuma — Pimos  and  Cocomaricopas 
Indians — Provisions  fail — Capture  of  Castro's  Horses,  and  of  the  Mail— 
Junction  of  the  Gila  and  Colorado — Desert — Approach  California — Signs 
of  the  Enemy — Letter  to  Com.  Stockton — Capt.  Gillespie — The  Enemy 
— Battle  of  San  Pasqual — Death  of  Captains  Johnston  and  Moore,  and 
Lieut.  Hammond — Gen.  Kearny,  Lieut.  Warner,  Captains  Gillespie  and 
Gibson,  wounded — Com.  Stockton — Sailors  and  Marines — The  Enemy — 
Battles  of  8th  and  9th  January — Killed  and  Wounded — Occupation  of 
City  of  the  Angels — Col.  Fremont  joins  Gen.  Kearny — Joint  Circular 
with  Com.  Shubrick— Lieut.  Col.  Cooke  and  Mormon  Battalion — Pro 
clamation  of  Lieut.  Emory  and  Despatches — Capt.  Tompkins's  Artillery 
Company — Col.  Stevenson's  Regiment — Settlements  and  Towns,  &c. — 
Decree  of  Gen.  Kearny — Government  established — Orders  to  take  pos 
session  of  Lower  California — Gen.  Kearny  returns  to  United  States — 
Route  homewards — Dead  Emigrants — Arrival — Reception  -  -  -  178 

CHAPTER  X. 

Col.  Sterling  Price — Lieut.  Col.  Willock — Missouri  mounted  Volunteers 
— Gen.  Kearny — Col.  Doniphan — Col.  Price  remains  at  Santa  Fe — 
Conspiracy — Gov.  Bent's  Proclamation — Organization  of  Government — 
Sickness  of  Troops — Enterprise  and  Amusements — Revolution — Murder 
of  Gov.  Bent  and  others — Americans  to  be  put  to  death — Letters  inter 
cepted — Enemy  approaching  Santa  Fe — Troops  called  together — Advance 
on  the  Enemy — Battles  of  Canada  and  Embudo — Battle  of  the  Pueblo 


CONTENTS. 


de  Taoe — Death  of  Capt  Burgwin — Funerals  and  Graves  of  Bent  and 
Burgwin — People  urged  to  rise — Massacres — Fight  at  Moro— Capt. 
Henley  killed — Capt  Morin  destroys  the  Town — The  Father-in-law  of 
Archuleta — Leaders  delivered  up — Tried  and  Executed — State  of  Affairs 
in  New  Mexico— Revolutionary  Spirit — Route  between  Santa  F6  and 
Fort  Leavenworth  dangerous — Lieut.  Peck — Incidents  of  the  Desert — 
Indians  very  Hostile — Engagement  with  Apaches — Lieut.  Brown  killed 
— Surprise  and  Capture  of  Los  Pias — Loquesta,  &c. — Prisoners — Exe 
cutions—Expiration  of  Terms  of  Service  of  Volunteers — Lieut.  Love's 
Battle  with  the  Indians — Indian  Aggression — Measures  taken  to  Repress 
and  Punish — No  organized  resistance  in  New  Mexico — Arrival  of  new 
Levies — Col.  Price  created  a  Brigadier-general — Visits  Missouri  to  return 
to  Santa  F6 i"  .»  -  -  -214 


APPENDIX 


THE  CONQUEST 


OP 


CALIFOENIA  AND    NEW  MEXICO. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Historical  Summary  of  Mexico — National  Boundary — Departments  and  Popula 
tion — Yucatan  and  Texas — Mountains  and  Table-land  of  Mexico — Salubrity — 
Rivers — Lakes — Volcanoes — Harbours — Mixed  Races — Slavery — Commerce 
— Manufactures — Mines — Military  Force — Revenue — Debt. 

MEXICO,  once  the  powerful  and  populous  empire  of  Montezuma, 
chief  of  the  native  Aztec  race ;  afterwards,  by  the  conquest  of 
Cortez,  in  1521,  one  of  the  brightest  gems  in  the  Spanish  crown, 
asserted,  in  1810,  her  independence,  and  at  the  end  of  a  prolonged 
and  bloody  struggle,  in  which  some  500,000  perished,  adopted,  in 
1824,  a  constitution  of  government  formed  nearly  on  the  model 
of  the  United  States,  with  two  essential  exceptions.  One  which 
established  the  Catholic  Roman  Apostolic  Religion,  and  declared 
that  the  nation  will  protect  it  by  wise  and  just  laws,  and  prohi 
bited  the  exercise  of  any  other.  The  second,  whereby  their  Con 
gress  was  authorized,  in  times  of  national  danger,  to  create  a 
dictator,  for  a  limited  time  ;  or,  in  other  words,  "  to  grant  extraor 
dinary  powers  to  the  executive,  for  a  limited  time,  upon  a  full 
knowledge  of  the  cause." 

Amid  civil  dissensions,  this  constitution  preserved  a  nominal 
existence  until  1835,  when  the  general  .Congress  suppressed  the 
state  legislatures,  and  provided  for  the  division  of  the  country  into 
departments ;  the  president  to  be  chosen  by  an  indirect  vote,  and 
the  two  houses  of  Congress  by  direct  popular  vote ;  the  executive 
head  of  each  department  to  be  appointed  by  the  supreme  national 
government. 


10  HISTORICAL  SUMMARY. 


Successive  revolutions,  headed  by  military  chiefs  who  more  or 
less  exercised  unlimited  power,  or  claimed  to  restore  the  constitu 
tion  of  1824,  followed,  until,  the  republican  party  once  more  in 
apparent  ascendency,  the  re-establishment  of  the  constitution  of 
1824  was,  on  the  22d  August,  1846,  decreed,  and  with  it  the  dis 
solution  of  the  departmental  assemblies  and  the  reorganization 
of  the  several  departments  into  sovereign  and  independent  states. 

On  the  20th  of  April,  1847,  the  Mexican  Congress  conferred  on 
the  executive — then  General  Santa  Anna — "extraordinary  powers" 
restricted  by  the  following  provisoes :  that  it  shall  not  have  power 
to  make  peace  ; — to  conclude  a  negotiation  with  foreign  powers  ;— 
to  alienate  the  territory  of  the  republic; — to  enter" into  coloniza 
tion  contracts ; — to  impose  penalties  ;— -or  lastly,  to  confer  other 
civil  and  military  employments  than  those  expressly  sanctioned  by 
the  constitution  of  1824. 

On  the  6th  of  June,  1847,  a  coalition  of  the  states  of  Jalisco, 
San  Louis  Potosi,  Zacatecas,  Mexico,  Queretara  and  Aguasca- 
Jientes  was  formed  at  Largos,  which,  looking  to  the  fall  of  the 
capital,  was  prepared  to  maintain  their  independence  and  the  fede 
ral  system  through  all  the  vicissitudes  of  war  and  to  the  resist 
ance  to  peace. 

Lord  Palmerston  had,  May  31,  1847,  assured  the  minister  of 
the  Mexican  republic,  Don  Joaquin  Mora,  "In  regard  to  the  con 
templated  abandonment  of  the  Mexican  capital  by  the  executive, 
to  which  Senor  Mora  refers  in  his  letter,  the  undersigned  (Pal- 
merston)  has  the  honour  of  assuring  Senor  Mora,  that  the  English 
minister  accredited  to  the  Mexican  government,  will  consider  it 
his  duty  to  follow  the  government,  and  maintain  his  relations  with 
it,  in  whatever  part  of  the  Mexican  territory  said  government  may 
fix  its  residence."  From  whatever  causes,  whether  from  corrup 
tions  and  abuses  of  power  introduced  into  the  administration  ; 
from  the  mixture  of  races ;  want  of  education  and  enlightenment 
among  the  masses,  it  has  happened  that  Mexico,  since  her  eman 
cipation  from  Spain,  has  exhibited  the  spectacle  of  a  republic  con 
vulsed  by  the  disputes  of  political  parties  and  of  rival  chiefs, 
ending  at  times  in  sanguinary  struggles  and  civil  warfare  ;  in  fact, 


DEPARTMENTS  AND  POPULATION.  11 

"  peace  seems  not  to  be  the  element  in  which  Mexican  statesmen 
gain  or  maintain  their  personal  ascendency." 

The  Mexican  nation  or  republic  is  now  bounded  on  the  north 
by  the  Oregon  Territory  of  the  United  States ;  on  the  south  by 
Yucatan  and  Guatamala :  on  the  east  by  the  United  States,  and 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico;  .and  on  the  west  and  south-west  by  the 
Pacific  ocean.  This  territory  extends  from  latitude  15°  to  latitude 
42°  north,  or  about  1800  miles  from  north  to  south. 

Geographical  and  political  details  of  the  original  divisions,  and 
of  the  subsequent  territorial  subdivisions,  cannot  find  space  in  this 
work ;  sufficient  to  state  that,  on  10th  November,  1843,  a  decree 
for  the  election  of  delegates  to  the  new  Congress  to  convene  in  the 
city  of  Mexico  on  1st  June,  1844,  fixed  the  ratio  of  representa 
tion  as  one  delegate  for  70,000  souls,  agreeably  to  the  census  pre 
pared  by  the  National  Institute  of  Geography  and  Statistics,  and 
named  the  departments  as  follows  : — 

Departments.  Population. 

Mexico,          .         .         .         .         .         .  1,389,520 

Jalisco, 679,111 

Puebla, 661,902 

Yucatan, 580,948 

Guanaxuato,    .         .         .         .         .         .  513,606 

Oajaca,       .     ~  ^  VY    :  *        •        .         .  500,278 

Michoacan,     .        .         .        ,         .        .  497,906 

San  Louis  Potosi,         .....  321,840 

Zacatecas,       .     //,         ....  273,575 

Vera  Cruz, 254,380 

Durango, 162,618  * 

-  Chihuahua, 147,600 

Sinaloa, 147,000 

Chiapas,     .......  141,206 

Sonora,            .         .         .         ...  124,000 

Queretara, 120,560 

Neuvo  Leon, 101,108 

Tamaulipas, 100,068 

Coahuila, 75,340 


12  MOUNTAINS  AND  RIVERS. 

Aguascalientes, 69,693 

Tabasco, 63,580 

Neuvo  Mexico, 67,026 

Californias, 33,439 

Texas,        .  27,800 


Total,  7,044,140 

Yucatan  has  since  dissolved  the  connection.  Texas  had  de 
clared  and  conquered  her  independence  at  the  time,  and  claims, 
as  embraced  within  her  boundaries,  the  parts  lying  east  of  the 
Rio  Grande,  of  four  of  the  departments  enumerated  above ; 
namely,  of  New  Mexico,  Chihuahua,  Coahuila,  and  Tamaulipas. 

The  vast  ridge  which  runs  through  Mexico  connects  the  Andes 
of  the  south  and  the  Rocky  Mountains  of  the  north.  In  the 
centre  of  Mexico,  this  chain  presents  a  broad  table-land  from  6000 
to  8000  feet  in  height,  diversified  by  detached  mountains,  rising 
into  the  regions  of  perpetual  snow,  while  it  falls  off  rapidly  as  it 
spreads  towards  the  eastern  and  western  sea-coasts.  Hence,  on 
an  almost  continuous  level,  wheel  carriages  may  run  from  the 
capital  to  Santa  Fe,  in  New  Mexico,  while  laterally  the  commu 
nication  is  extremely  difficult,  and,  in  most  cases,  can  be  carried 
on  only  by  mules. 

The  summit  of  this  vast  table-plain  is  devoid  of  vegetation  from 
the  absence  of  moisture  ;  its  first  slopes  afford  a  vegetation  of  un 
common  strength  and  beauty,  while  the  narrow  plain  along  the 
sea-coast  produces  the  richest  tropical  productions,  with  a  luxuri 
ance  scarcely  to  be  paralleled. 

On  the  other  hand,  health  and  salubrity  of  air  retrograde  with 
as  decided  steps  as  fertility  advances  towards  the  coasts. 

Of  the  rivers  of  Mexico,  not  numerous  or  of  great  magnitude, 
the  Rio  Grande  del  Norte  is  the  principal,  running  a  south-east 
erly  course,  about  1600  miles  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The  Sa 
cramento  and  San  Joachim  are  large  rivers  of  Upper  California. 
The  Colorado  of  the  West  is  also  a  large  river,  and  falls  into  the 
Gulf  of  California,  after  receiving  the  Gila.  From  the  structure 
of  the  country,  the  rivers  of  tropical  Mexico  mostly  become  mere 


MIXED  RACES.  13 

torrents.  The  Parmco,  the  San  Fernando,  and  the  Santander,  are 
considerable  streams  on  the  eastern  coast ;  and  the  Zacatula,  Rio 
Grande,  (or  Tololotlan,)  and  Hiaqui  on  the  western.  The  lakes 
of  Mexico  are  very  numerous,  and  appear  to  be  the  remains 
of  others  of  vast  extent.  There  are  five  active  volcanic  moun 
tains,  Tuxtla,  Orizava,  Popocatepetl,  Jarullo,  and  Colima,  con 
nected  by  a  chain  of  intermediate  ones,  evidently  of  similar 
origin. 

The  principal  port  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  is  the  insecure  har 
bour  of  Vera  Cruz ;  Tampico  is  much  frequented,  north-east  of 
which  are  several  natural  harbours  less  used,  while  south  are 
Alvarado  and  Huascualco.  On  the  Pacific,  are  the  bays  of  San 
Francisco,  Monterey,  Tehuantepec,  Acapulco,  and  San  Bias. 
The  want  of  good  harbours  must  prevent  Mexico  proper  from 
ever  becoming  a  great  maritime  power.  In  the  Gulf  of  Califor 
nia  there  are  tolerable  harbours,  but  few  considerable  settle 
ments. 

The  population  of  Mexico  is  variously  rated,  almost  universally 
larger  than  the  estimate  given  by  the  Mexican  National  Institute 
of  Geography. 

Its  mixed  character  is  singularly  different  from  that  of  other 
countries.  The  following  statement  concisely  enumerates  the 
classes. 

1.  Europeans,  or  persons  of  pure  Spanish  blood,  not  natives  of 
Mexico,  powerless  in  a  political  point  of  view,  but  wealthy,  though 
of  small  number. 

2.  Crillos  or  Creoles ;   persons  of  unadulterated  white  blood. 
During  the  revolution,  these  and  the  first  class  were  known  as 
Gauchupinos,  and,  generally  opposing  the  revolution,  were  called 
Realists  or  Royalists. 

3.  Meztizos,  or  half-bloods,  the  descendants  of  the  white    and 
aboriginal  races  ;  this  class  comprises  a  great  portion  of  the  popu 
lation  of  Mexico. 

4.  The  native  unmixed  Indians,  now  rapidly  being  amalga 
mated  with  the  others,  yet  still  powerful  in  a  numerical  point  of 
view. 

B 


14  MINES. 


5.  Mulattoes,    as   with   us,   the    descendants    of   whites    and 
Africans. 

6.  Africans,  and  persons  of  unmixed  African  blood. 

7.  Zambos,  the  Descendants  of  Indian  and  African  parents. 
Besides,  there  are  numerous  descendants  of  emigrants  from  the 

Canary  Islands,  with  a  great  admixture  of  Moorish,  not  African 
blood.  Gitanos  or  Gipseys,  and,  it  is  said,  on  the  Pacific  coast, 
near  Acapulco,  a  large  proportion  of  the  population  have  a  mix 
ture  of  Malay  and  Chinese  blood. 

Slavery  was  abolished  on  the  13th  of  July,  1824,  and  from  that 
date,  every  imported  slave  was  declared  to  be  a  free  man  from  the 
moment  he  landed  upon  the  Mexican  coast.  They  have,  however, 
a  system  of  quasi  servitude,  called  peonage. 

The  commerce  of  Mexico  does  not  correspond  with  its  capa 
bilities  of  production.  On  the  "  temperate  lands,"  the  finest  plants 
of  the  most  genial  temperate  climates  are  produced  in  higher  per 
fection  than  in  most  other  parts  of  the  world ;  while  the  different 
elevations  of  its  great  tabular  mass  of  territory  afford  scope  for 
such  vast  variety  of  productions  as  to  render  Mexico  celebrated  as 
an  agricultural  country. 

Manufactures  spread  slowly  among  them,  yet  they  are  now 
being  established ;  principally  in  Puebla. 

The  mines,  however,  have  given  the  idea  of  unbounded  wealth 
and  romantic  splendour  to  the  name  of  Mexico,  whence,  indeed, 
since  the  first  discovery,  more  silver  has  been  produced  than  from 
all  the  rest  of  the  world.  The  amount  coined  at  .the  mint  of 
Mexico,  since  the  conquest,  amounts  to  443,000,000  dollars.  The 
number  of  mines  already  known  is  between  three  and  four  thou 
sand.  Their  largest  yield  in  any  one  year  was,  in  1796, 
25,644,566  dollars,  and  for  some  years  previous  to  1810,  the 
average  annual  yield  was  24,000,000.  During  the  revolution, 
the  amount  was  greatly  reduced,  water  having  been,  in  many 
instances,  allowed  to  rush  in,  the  machinery  destroyed,  and  the 
workmen  dispersed.  In  1825,  numerous  British  capitalists  un 
dertook  to  restore  and  extend  the  produce  of  the  mines.  German 
companies  were  also  formed,  as  also  were  two  American ;  the 


DEBT   OF  MEXICO.  15 

expenses  in  the  outset  were  enormous,  and  the  results  discourag 
ing;  their  subsequent  special  operations  are  not  known,  further 
than  that  Europeans  have  now  an  interest  in  the  mines  of  Mexico, 
of  some  twenty  millions  of  dollars.  This  would  appear  to  be  a 
glittering  prospect,  but,  classed  with  other  industrial  pursuits,  the 
yield,  compared  to  the  capital  and  labour,  may  not  be  found  to  be 
greater  than  an  equal  amount  invested  in  agriculture,  commerce 
or  manufactures. 

The  unsettled  state  of  the  country  gives  little  value  to  its  sta 
tistical  statements.  Nothing  certain  can  be  told  of  its  military 
force,  nor  of  its  annual  revenue,  which  has  been  stated  as  about 
16,000,000  dollars.  The  national  debt  is  equally  unascertainable — 
computed,  however,  by  those  most  competent  to  determine,  at 
about  100,000,000  dollars,  subject  to  the  addition  which  the  pre 
sent  war  entails.  On  the  13th  of  September,  1847,  the  consolida 
tion  and  acknowledgment  of  the  Mexican  debt  to  English  bond 
holders  was  formally  announced  in  London,  by  authority  of  the 
Mexican  legation  at  that  court,  as  having  been  consummated  in 
Mexico,  to  the  amount  of  ^10,241,650; — represented  at  the  Mexi 
can  par,  as  about  forty-six  millions  of  dollars.  ..What  other  foreign 
obligations  may  exist  cannot  be  ascertained  with  any  accuracy. 


16  GEOGRAPHICL  OUTLINE. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Geographical  Outline  of  California  and  New  Mexico. 

THE  conquest  of  California  and  New  Mexico  embodied  a  class 
of  men  whose  intelligence,  enterprise,  and  capacity,  might  well 
be  confided  in  to  develop  the  character  of  the  country,  or  to  dis 
cover  its  utmost  resources.  Their  marches  and  counter-marches, 
in  a  great  measure,  afforded  occasion,  if  not  facilities.  But  it  was 
not  alone  that  our  forces  embraced  the  profession  of  arms,  the 
citizen  soldier,  and  the  anticipated  emigrant,  but  that  the  govern 
ment  had  also  provided  men  of  science,  from  whose  reports  more 
might  be  accurately  known  of  California  and  New  Mexico.  Time 
has  not  sufficiently  elapsed  to  hear  fully  from  these  conjoined 
sources  of  intelligent  and  extensive  exploration  much  that  must 
hereafter  serve  to  the  attainment  of  a  certain  fixed  knowledge  of 
the  geography,  soil,  climate,  &c.  of  these  countries. 

At  present  the  accounts  received  vary  materially.  It  is  neces 
sary,  however,  for  the  purposes  of  this  narrative,  that  some  gene 
ral  outline  of  the  geography  of  the  scenes  of  many  a  gallant  con 
test  here  sketched,  should  be  given,  and  in  this  the  author  deems 
old  authorities,  as  Humboldt,  and  more  modern,  "The  United 
States  Exploring  Expedition,"  Greenhow,  &c.,  as,  on  the  whole, 
altogether  preferable  to  the  newspaper  paragraphs  which  so  sel 
dom  agree  one  with  another.  Whatever  exception  may  be  made 
in  the  compilation  of  the  geographical  outline  of  California  and 
New  Mexico  will  be  accompanied  with  names. 

"Upper  California  extends,  upon  the  Pacific,  from  the  32d 
parallel  of  latitude,  about  seven  hundred  miles  north-westward  to 
Oregon,  from  which  it  is  divided,  nearly  in  the  course  of  the  42d 
parallel — that  is  in  the  latitude  of  Boston — by  a  chain  of  highlands 
called  the  Snowy  Mountains  ;  the  Sierra  Nevada  of  the  Spaniards. 
Its  boundaries  on  the  west  are  not,  as  yet,  politically  determined 


GEOGRAPHICAL  OUTLINE.  17 


by  the  Mexican  government ;  nor  do  geographers  agree  with  re 
gard  to  natural  limits  in  that  direction.  By  some,  it  is  considered 
as  embracing  only  the  territory  between,  the  Pacific  and  the  sum 
mit  of  the  mountains  which  border  the  western  side  of  the  conti 
nent  :  others  extend  its  limits  to  the  Colorado  ;  while  others  include 
in  it,  and  others  again  exclude  from  it,  the  entire  regions  drained 
by  that  river.  The  only  portion  occupied  by  Mexicans,  or  of 
which  any  distinct  accounts  have  been  obtained,  is  that  between 
the  great  chain  of  mountains  and  the  ocean ;  the  country  east  of 
that  ridge  to  the  Colorado  appears  to  be  an  uninhabitable  desert. 

"  Northward  from  the  Peninsula,  or  Lower  California,  the  great 
westermost  chain  of  mountains  continues  nearly  parallel  with  the 
Pacific  coast,  to  the  34th  degree  of  latitude,  under  which  rises 
Mount  San  Bernardin,  one  of  the  highest  peaks  in  California, 
about  forty  miles  from  the  ocean.  Further  north  the  coast  turns 
more  to  the  west,  and  the  space  between  it  and  the  summit  line 
of  the  mountains  becomes  wider,  so  as  to  exceed  eighty  miles  in 
some  places  ;  the  intermediate  region  being  traversed  by  lines  of 
hills,  or  smaller  mountains,  connected  with  the  main  range.  The 
principal  of  these  inferior  ridges  extends  from  Mount  San  Ber 
nardin  north-westward  to  its  termination  on  the  south  side  of  the 
entrance  of  the  great  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  near  the  38th  degree 
of  latitude,  where  it  is  called  the  San  Bruno  Mountains.  Between 
this  range  and  the  coast  run  the  Santa  Barbara  Mountains,  termi 
nating  on  the  north  at  the  Cape  of  Pines,  on  the  south-west  side 
of  the  Bay  of  Monterey,  near  the  latitude  36£  degrees.  North  of 
the  San  Bruno  Mountains  is  the  Bolbones  ridge,  bordering  the 
Bay  of  San  Francisco  on  the  east ;  and  still  farther  in  the  same 
direction  are  other  and  much  higher  lines  of  highlands,  stretch 
ing  from  the  great  chain,  and  terminating  in  capes  on  the  Pa 
cific. 

"  The  southern  part  of  Upper  California,  between  the  Pacific  and 
the  great  westermost  chain  of  mountains,  is  very  hot  and  dry,  ex 
cept  during  a  short  time  in  winter.  Further  north  the  wet  season 
increases  in  length,  and  about  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco  the  rains 
are  almost  constant  from  November  to  April,  the  earth  being  moist- 

B3  9 


18  GEOGRAPHICAL  OUTLINE. 

cned  during  the  remainder  of  the  year  by  heavy  dews  and  fogs. 
Snow  and  ice  are  sometimes  seen  in  the  winter  on  the  shores  of 
this  bay,  but  never  further  south,  except  on  the  mountain-tops. 
The  whole  of  California  is,  however,  subject  to  long  droughts."* 
Heavy  rains  are  of  rare  occurrence,  and  two  years  without  any  is 
not  unusual ;  notwithstanding  which,  vegetation  does  not  suffer  to 
the  extent  that  might  be  inferred,  because,  in  the  first  place,  many 
small  streams  descend  from  the  mountain  ranges,  supplying  the 
means  of  both  natural  and  artificial  irrigation  ;  and,  next,  that  the 
country  near  the  coast  is  favoured  with  a  diurnal  land  and  sea 
breeze ;  and,  from  the  comparatively  low  temperature  of  the  sea, 
the  latter  is  always  in  summer  accompanied  with  fogs,  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  night,  and  which  are  dissipated  by  the  morning's  sun, 
but  serve  to  moisten  the  pastures  and  nourish  a  somewhat  peculiar 
vegetation  abounding  in  beautiful  flowers. 

"Among  the  valleys  of  Upper  California  are  many  streams, 
some  of  which  discharge  large  quantities  of  water  in  the  rainy 
season ;  but  no  river  is  known  to  flow  through  the  maritime  ridge 
of  mountains  from  the  interior  to  the  Pacific,  except  perhaps  the 
Sacramento,  falling  into  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  though  several 
are  thus  represented  on  the  maps.  The  valleys  thus  watered 
afford  abundant  pasturage  for  cattle,  with  which  they  are  covered; 
California,  however,  contains  but  two  tracts  of  country  capable  of 
supporting  large  numbers  of  inhabitants,  which  are  that  west  of 
Mount  San  Bernardin,  about  the  34th  degree  of  latitude,  and  that 
surrounding  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  and  the  lower  part  of  the 
Sacramento ;  and  even  in  these,  irrigation  would  be  indispensable 
to  insure  success  in  agriculture." 

In  reply  to  inquiries  of  the  author  of  these  sketches,  as  to  the 
area  of  Upper  California,  William  Darby,  the  well-known  Ameri 
can  geographer,  writes:  "The  provincial  terms  of  New  Mexico, 
and  of  Upper  and  Lower  California,  have  been,  and  are  yet,  rather 
designations  of  indefinite  tracts  than  of  real  defined  political  sec 
tions.  The  Pacific  ocean  limits  on  the  west,  and  by  treaty, 
N.  lat.  42°  on  the  north  ;  but  inland  and  southward,  it  is  in  vain 

*  Greenhow. 


GEOGRAPHICAL   OUTLINE.  19 

to  seek  any  definite  boundary.  In  order,  however,  to  give  as  dis 
tinct  a  view  as  the  nature  of  the  case  will  admit,  let  us  adopt  the 
mouth  of  the  Colorado  and  Gila,  or  the  head  of  the  Gulf  of  Cali 
fornia,  as  a  point  on  the  southern  boundary  of  Upper  California. 
The  point  assumed  coincides  very  nearly  with  N.  lat.  32°,  and,  if 
adopted,  would  give  to  that  country  a  breadth  of  ten  degrees  of 
latitude,  or  in  round  numbers  800  statute  miles  from  south  to 
north.  As  already  stated,  the  Pacific  Ocean  bounds  this  country 
on  the  west,  and  lat.  42°  on  the  north.  To  separate  it  on  the  east 
from  New  Mexico,  we  must  assume  the  mountain  chain  of  the 
Sierra  Madre,  or  Anahuac,  which,  in  this  region,  inclines  but  little 
from  north  and  south :  whilst  the  Pacific  coast  extends  in  general 
course  north-west  and  south-east.  These  opposite  outlines  contract 
the  southern  side  to  about  500  miles,  and  open  the  northern  side 
to  rather  above  800  miles  ;  giving  a  mean  breadth  of  650  miles. 
The  area,  for  all  general  purposes,  may  be  safely  taken  at 
500,000  square  miles.  The  general  slope  or  declination  of  this 
great  region  is  westward,  towards  the  Pacific  and  Gulf  of  Cali 
fornia." 

Mr.  Darby  adds :  "  The  climate  of  the  western  slope  of  North 
America  has  a  warmth  ten  degrees  at  least  higher  than  the  eastern, 
upon  similar  latitude.  The  cause  of  this  difference  is  the  course 
of  prevailing  winds  in  the  temperate  zones  of  the  earth,  from  the 
western  points.  Thus  the  winds  on  the  western  side  of  the  conti 
nent  are  from  the  ocean,  and  on  the  eastern  from  the  land.  I  have 
in  the  present  case  given  ten  degrees  of  difference,  in  order  to  be 
within  bounds  ;  but  am  confident  that  above  N.  lat.  32°,  and  within 
two  or  three  hundred  miles  from  the  ocean,  the  climatic  difference 
in  winter,  on  equal  elevations  of  surface,  is  far  nearer  twenty  than 
/en."  The  author's  investigations  would  lead  him  to  the  convic 
tion  that  the  climatic  difference  is  considerably  above  ten  degrees, 
and  that  Mr.  Darby  may  be  correct  as  to  the  higher  point.  It  is, 
however,  a  subject  yet  undetermined,  and  one  which  the  author 
is  aware  now  engages  the  philosophical  investigation  of  one  of 
the  ablest  and  most  deservedly  honored  sages  of  America,  Albert 
Gallatin,  from  whose  conclusions  the  public  will  need  no  appeal. 


20  GEOGRAPHICAL   OUTLINE. 


The  visit  of  Captain  Wilkes,  of  the  United  States  Exploring 
Expedition,  was  made  in  1841.  He  refers  to  very  great  difficulty 
in  obtaining  accurate  information  in  relation  to  Upper  California ; 
the  country,  at  the  time  of  his  visit,  and  for  several  years  previous, 
having  been  in  a  state  of  revolution.  He  found  it  suffering  under 
a  drought  of  eleven  months'  continuance,  and  hence  his  first  view 
was  unfavourable  as  to  its  beauty  or  fertility,  nor  did  subsequent 
experience  materially  alter  this  impression,  except  as  to  the  regions 
to  which  allusion  has  been  already  made. 

"  The  soil  is  as  variable  as  the  face  of  the  country.  On  the  coast 
range  of  hills  there  is  little  to  invite  the  agriculturist,  except  in  some 
vales  of  no  great  extent.  These  hills  are,  however,  admirably  adapted 
for  raising  herds  and  flocks,  and  are  at  present  the  feeding-grounds 
of  numerous  deer,  elk,  &c.,  to  which  the  short,  sweet  grass  and 
wild  oats  that  are  spread  over  them  afford  a  plentiful  supply  of 
food."  Captain  Wilkes  concludes :  "  The  valley  of  the  Sacra 
mento,  and  that  of  San  Juan  are  the  most  fruitful  parts  of  California, 
particularly  the  latter,  which  is  capable  of  producing  wheat,  Indian 
corn,  rye,  oats,  &c.,  with  all  the  fruits  of  the  temperate,  and  many 
of  the  tropical  climates.  It  likewise  offers  pasture  grounds  for 
cattle.  This  region  comprises  a  level  plain,  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
miles  in  width,  extending  from  the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  beyond 
the  mission  of  that  name,  north  and  south.  This  may  be  termed 
the  garden  of  California  ;  but  although  several  small  streams  and 
lakes  serve  to  water  it,  yet  in  dry  seasons  or  droughts,  not  only  the 
crops  but  the  Tierbage  also  suffers  extremely,  and  the  cattle  are 
deprived  of  food."  The  most  extensive  portion  of  Upper  Cali 
fornia — the  inland  plain  between  the  "  California"  and  the  Colorado 
range  of  mountains — is  an  arid  waste,  destitute  of  the  requisites 
for  supplying  the  wants  of  man.  "  This  plain  is  a  waste  of  sand, 
with  a  few  detached  mountains  (some  of  which  rise  to  the  region 
of  perpetual  snow)  whose  positions  are  unknown ;  from  these 
flow  small  streams  that  are  soon  lost  in  the  sand.  A  few  Indians 
are  scattered  over  the  plain,  the  most  miserable  objects  in  crea 
tion." 

The  climate  varies  as  much  or  more  than  its  natural  features 


GEOGRAPHICAL  OUTLINE.  21 

and  soil.  On  the  coast  range,  it  has  as  high  a  mean  temperature 
in  winter  as  in  summer.  In  fact,  the  latter  is  the  coldest  part  of 
the  year  owing  to  the  prevalence  of  cold, .damp  and  uncomfortable 
north-west  winds,  rendering  fire  often  necessary  for  comfort  in  mid 
summer.  Thirty  miles,  however,  from  the  coast,  the  climate 
undergoes  a  great  change,  and  according  to  Captain  Wilkes,  "  in 
no  part  of  the  world  is  there  to  be  found  a  finer  or  a  more  equable 
one  than  in  the  valley  of  San  Juan,"  and  none  can  be  more 
salubrious. 

The  Sacramento  is  the  largest  river  in  California.  The  San 
Joachim  is  next  in  importance.  "There  are  many  small  streams 
that  flow  through  the  different  valleys,  and  afford  partial  opportu 
nities  for  irrigating  the  land  ;  but  there  are  none  of  them  navigable 
except  the  Sacramento." 

Upper  California  has  one  of  the  finest  harbours  in  the  world, 
in  which  the  combined  fleets  of  all  the  naval  powers  of  Europe 
might  ride  in  safety.  "  This,  however,  is  the  only  real  good  har 
bour  which  the  country  possesses  ;  for  the  others  so  called  may 
be  frequented  only  during  the  fine  season,  being  nothing  more 
than  roadsteads,  affording  little  safety  and  but  few  supplies  to 
vessels." 

"  Among  these  bays  are  that  of  Monterey,  the  capital  of  Upper 
California,  and  that  of  Santa  Barbara  and  San  Pedro.  The  two 
last  are  partly  protected  from  the  swell  of  the  Pacific  ocean  by  the 
islands  that  cover  them."* 

The  yield  of  wheat,  small  grain  and  vegetables,  is  said  to  be 
great,  and  very  remarkable,  but,  as  agriculture  cannot  succeed  in 
Upper  California,  but  by  irrigation,  it  has  hitherto  happened  that 
it  has  been  principally  occupied  as  a  pastoral  country — as  costing 
least  labour  to  rear  cattle,  for  which  it  is  only  necessary  to  pro 
vide  keepers,  and  have  them  marked.  The  numerous  animals 
which  are  there  slaughtered  for  little  more  than  their  hides  and 
tallow,  do  not  putrefy  and  become  offensive  as  they  would  in  other 
climates,  but,  as  wood  is  not  everywhere  as  abundant  as  their 

*  Captain  Wilkes. 


23  GEOGRAPHICAL   OUTLINE. 

bones,  the  last  are  sometimes   used  to  supply  the  place  of  the 
former,  in  the  construction  of  garden  fences,  &c. 

The  principal  towns  are  enumerated  by  M.  de  Mofras,  together 
with  their  population.  His  account  of  the  soil,  exports,  &c.,  is 
interesting,  and  accurate,  doubtless,  of  the  time  to  which  it  refers. 
Since  then,  however,  the  population  has  been  increased  by  emi 
gration.  M.  de  Mofras  gives  a  very  minute  account  of  the  state 
of  affairs  in  California,  in  1842.  His  work  was  published  under 
the  immediate  direction  of  the  French  minister,  Marshal  Soult,  by 
order  of  the  king  of  France. 

The  area  of  Upper  California  he  gives  at  500,000  square  miles, 
and  the  population  exclusive  of  Indians  scattered  over  this  extent 
he  classifies  as  follows  : 

Californians  descended  from  Spain,  .  !v  ,-»  .  4000 
Americans  from  United  States,  .  "  -•  •*  .  360 
English,  Scotch,  and  Irish,  .  *  *\ .  .  •  •  ,  300 
European  Spaniards,  .  .  .  i  ,  >  *  .  80 

French  and  Canadians,  .  .  .  J  *  v  «•  "80 
Germans,  Italians,  Portuguese  and  Sandwich  islanders,  90 
Mexicans,  .  .  i  •  •  ,« ;'-  •>  90 

Total,     .        .  5000 

Among  the  English  and  Americans,  he  states,  are  many  run 
away  seamen,  but  most  of  them  are  immigrants  from  the  west. 
The  location  of  this  population  is  given  as  follows : 

San  Diego,        ....  .     1300 

Santa  Barbara, 800 

Monterey, 1000 

San  Francisco, 800 

Scattered, 1100 

Total,     .         .         5000 

The  three  most  important  establishments  in  the  country,  are  the 
factories  of  the  Hudson  Bay  company,  and  the  most  important  of 
all,  New  Helvetia,  founded  by  Captain  Sutler,  a  retired  officer  of 
the  Swiss  Guards  of  Charles  X.,  disbanded  at  the  revolution  of  the 
three  days  of  1830.  This  enterprising  gentleman  emigrated  from 


GEOGRAPHICAL   OUTLINE.  23 

Missouri  to  California,  in  1838,  1839,  and  has  formed  the  nucleus 
of  the  future  empire  on  the  Pacific.  Captain  Fremont,  on  his 
visit  to  Captain  Sutter,  1844,  states  that  on  his  first  settlement  he 
had  some  trpuble  with  the  Indians,  but  by  the  occasional  exercise 
of  well-timed  authority,  converted  them  into  a  peaceable  and  in 
dustrious  people.  On  application  to  the  chief  of  a  village,  he 
obtained  as  many  boys  and  girls  as  he  can  employ;  and  there  was 
at  that  time  a  number  in  training  for  a  woollen  factory.  He 
bought  out  the  stock  of  a  Russian  establishment,  the  owners  of 
which  wished  to  leave  the  country,  consisting  of  a  large  number 
of  cattle,  artillery,  &c.,  and  makes  payment  for  them  annually  in 
grain.  His  fort  mounts  twelve  cannon,  and  can  hold  1000  men, 
but  is  garrisoned  with  forty  Indians,  in  uniform.  The  imports  and 
exports  of  California,  M.  de  Mofras  gives  as  follows : 

Imports.  Exports. 

Mexican  flag,  50,000  .                  65,000 

United  States  flag,  70,000  150,000 

English  flag,  20,000  45,000 

Miscellaneous  flag,  10,000  20,000 

Total,  150,000  280,000 

The  articles  exported  are,  hides  $210,000;  tallow  $55,000; 
peltries,  wood,  &c.  $15,000;  total  $280,000.  The  business  done 
under  the  Mexican  flag  is  not  in  Mexican  vessels,  but  in  those 
belonging  to  citizens  of  other  countries,  doing  business  in  Mexico. 
In  1841,  of  eleven  vessels  that  reached  California  under  the 
Mexican  flag,  only  one,  a  boat  of  eighty-six  tons,  in  the  service 
of  the  government,  was  Mexican.  In  relation  to  the  soil  of  Cali 
fornia,  he  remarks  as  follows  : 

"  The  soil  is  often  in  the  valleys,  two  metres  deep  :  the  superior 
strata  are  formed  in  part  of  organic  detritus,  and  are,  of  course, 
extremely  fertile.  The  soil  is  never  naked,  grass  covers  it  through 
the  whole  year.  The  gramineous  plants  attain  the  height  of 
eight  or  ten  feet.  But  the  trees  of  California,  if  not  the  largest, 
are  at  any  rate  the  tallest,  on  the  globe. 

"  The  seasons  follow  the  same  course  as  in  (southern)  Europe, 
and  the  year  is  divided  into  two  well-marked  parts,  the  season  of 


24  GEOGRAPHICAL   OUTLINE. 


rains,  which  begins  in  October  and  ends  in  March,  and  the  dry 
season,  which  embraces  the  remaining  six  months  of  spring  and 
summer.  *  *  * 

"  Once  only  since  the  colonization  of  the  country,  has  snow 
been  known  to  fall  in  the  plains. 

"  To  resume,  Upper  California  is,  on  the  whole,  admirably  fitted 
for  colonization.  This  province  presents  the  greatest  facilities  for 
raising  cattle,  for  cultivating  corn,  plants,  and  for  the  grape ;  it 
might  contain  twenty  millions  of  inhabitants ;  and  its  ports  are  a 
point  of  necessary  communication  for  vessels"  going  from  China 
and  Asia  to  the  western  coasts  of  North  America. 

"It  is  beyond  doubt,  that  so  soon  as  an  intelligent  and  laborious 
population  is  established  there,  this  country  will  occupy  an  ele 
vated  rank  in  the  commercial  scale  ;  it  would  form  the  entrepot 
where  the  coasts  of  the  great  ocean  would  send  their  products, 
and  would  furnish  the  greatest  part  of  their  subsistence  in  grains 
to  the  north-west,  to  Mexico,  to  Central  America,  to  Ecuador,  to 
Peru,  to  the  north  coast  of  Asia,  and  to  many  groups  of  Polynesia 
—such  as  the  Sandwich  isles,  the  Marquesas,  and  Tahiti." 

The  number  of  emigrants  that  have  arrived,  as  far  as  heard 
from,  may  be  estimated  as  about  three  thousand.  Others  are  on 
their  way,  to  a  much  greater  amount. 

Of  the  present  condition  of  the  country,  in  addition  to  what 
will  be  necessarily  said  in  other  chapters,  as  connected  with  mili 
tary  events,  the  following  extract  from  the  "California  Star," 
edited  by  the  chief  of  the  Mormon  emigrants,  will,  perhaps,  suffice 
for  the  purposes  of  our  mere  outlines : 

"  YERBA  BUENA  AND  SAN  FRANCISCO  BAY. — The  only  journal 
upon  which  the  people  at  a  distance  can  rely,  with  any  degree  of 
certainty  for  facts  and  correct  description,  is  the  plain  but  well- 
written  work  of  Col.  J.  C.  Fremont,  which  we  recommend  to  every 
one  who  feels  an  interest  in  learning  any  thing  in  relation  to  the 
former  history  or  late  condition  of  the  country. 

"In  consequence  of  the  difficulty  which  Colonel  Fremont  laboured 
under  in  getting  access  to  the  different  parts  of  the  country,  he 
was  unable  to  give  that  accurate  information  relative  to  this 


YERBA  BUENA.  25 

part,  which  he  could  and  would  have  done  under  other  circum 
stances.  To  supply  the  deficiency  in  all  these  works,  (some  of 
which  have  'obtained  an  extensive  circulation,)  so  far  as  it  relates 
to  this  part  of  California,  we  have  obtained  from  the  most  authen 
tic  sources  the  description  of  the  town  and  bay,  which  follows  : 

"  Yerba  Buena,  the  name  of  our  town,  which  means,  GOOD  HERB, 
is  situated  on  the  south-west  side  of  the  principal  arm  of  San 
Francisco  Bay,  about  five  miles  from  the  ocean,  on  a  narrow  neck 
of  land,  varying  from  four  to  ten  miles  in  width — the  narrowest 
place  being  sixteen  miles  south-west  of  the  town.  It  is  in  latitude 
37°  45'  north.  This  narrow  slip  of  land  is  about  sixty  miles  in 
length,  extending  from  the  point  formed  by  the  bay  and  the  ocean 
to  the  valley  of  San  Jose.  The  site  of  the  town  is  handsome  and 
commanding,  being  an  inclined  plane  of  about  a  mile  in  extent 
from  the  water's  edge  to  the  hills  in  the  rear.  Two  points  of 
land — one  on  each  side,  extending  into  the  bay — form  a  crescent, 
or  a  small  bay  in  the  shape  of  a  crescent,  in  front,  which  bears 
the  name  of  the  town.  These  points  afford  a  fine  view  of  the 
surrounding  country — the  snow-capped  mountains  in  the  dis 
tance — the  green  valleys  beneath  them — the  beautiful,  smooth, 
and  unruffled  bay  in  front  and  on  either  side,  at  once  burst  upon 
the  eye.  There  is  in  front  of  the  town  a  small  island,  rising  high 
above  the  surface  of  the  bay,  about  two  miles  long  and  one  wide, 
which  is  covered,  the  greater  part  of  the  year,  with  the  most  exu 
berant  herbage  of  untrodden  freshness.  This  little  island  is  about 
three  miles  from  the  shore.  Between  it  and  the  town  is  the  prin 
cipal  anchorage.  Here  the  vessels  of  all  nations  rest  in  safety 
and  peace,  and  their  flags  are  displayed  by  the  aromatic  breeze. 
Two  hundred  yards  from  the  shore,  there  is  twenty-four  feet 
water,  and  a  short  distance  beyond  that  as  many  fathoms.  The 
beach,  immediately  in  front  of  the  now  business  part  of  the  town, 
is  shelving,  but  it  will,  no  doubt,  in  a  short  time  be  filled  up,  and 
become  the  most  valuable  part  of  the  place. 

"  The  climate  here  is,  in  the  winter,  which  is  the  rainy  season, 
damp  and  chilly.  During  the  balance  of  the  year,  it  is  dry,  but 
chilly  in  consequence  of  the  continual  strong  winds  from  north 


26  VALLEY  OF  SAN  JOSE. 


and  north-west.  There  is  but  little  variation  in  the  atmosphere 
throughout  the  year;  the  thermometer  ranging  from  fifty-five  to 
seventy  degrees,  Fahrenheit. 

"  Yerba  Buena  is  one  of  the  most  healthy  places  on  the  whole 
coast  of  the  Pacific.  Sickness  of  any  kind  is  rarely  known 
among  us.  The  salubrity  of  the  climate — beauty  of  the  site*  of 
the  town — its  contiguity  to  the  mouth  of  the  bay — the  finest  har 
bour  on  the  whole  coast,  in  front — the  rich  and  beautiful  country 
around  it,  all  conspire  to  render  it  one  of  the  best  commercial 
points  in  the  world. 

"The  town  is  new,  having  been  laid  off  in  1839,  by  Captain 
John  Viogt,  and,  notwithstanding  all  the  troubles  in  the  country, 
has  gradually  increased  in  size  and  importance.  It  now  contains 
a  population  of  about  500  permanent  citizens.  Two  years  ago 
there  were  but  about  200. 

"  Three  miles  south  is  the  mission  Dolores,  on  Mission  Creek, 
surrounded  by  a  small  valley  of  rich  and  beautiful  land.  The 
water  from  this  creek  can  easily  be  brought  by  means  of  aque 
ducts  to  any  point  to  supply  vessels.  For  the  supply  of  the  citi 
zens,  the  best  of  well-water  is  obtained  in  every  part  of  the  town, 
by  boring  the  distance  of  forty  feet. 

"  In  going  south  from  Yerba  Buena,  the  traveller  passes  over 
this  narrow  neck  of  land ;  a  most  delightful  region,  interspersed 
with  hills,  valleys,  and  mountains — the  valleys  rich  and  beauti 
ful — the  hills  covered  with  tall  pines,  red  wood,  and  cedar,  that 
have  withstood  the  tempests  and  whirlwinds  of  a  century,  and  the 
mountains  rising  in  majestic  grandeur  to  the  clouds.  In  passing 
out,  the  valley  of  San  Jose  opens  to  the  view  in  all  the  loveliness 
of  the  climate  of  Italy,  and  beauty  of  the  tropics.  This  valley  is 
about  sixty  miles  in  length,  and  ten  in  width.  The  Puebla 
(which  means  an  incorporated  town)  is  the  principal  place  of  busi 
ness  for  the  valley,  and  is  about  five  miles  from  Santa  Clara,  the 
landing  on  the  bay,  or,  as  it  is  termed  here, « the  embarcadero.' 
Passing  on  from  here,  north-east,  the  traveller,  in  a  few  hours' 
ride,  reaches  the  straits  which  separate  the  Suisun  Bay,  formed 
by  the  confluence  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  rivers,  from 


SOIL  OF  CALIFORNIA.  27 

that  of  San  Pablo.  Here  it  seems  that  the  accumulated  waters 
of  a  thousand  years  had  suddenly  rent  the  opposing  mountain 
asunder,  and  flowed  with  tremendous  force  to  the  great  bosom  of 
the  deep. 

"  On  the  north  side  of  the  bay,  from  the  straits  to  Sausilita,  is 
one  of  the  finest  districts  of  country  in  all  Upper  California. 

"  Next  to  Yerba  Buena,  Sausilita  is  the  best  point  on  the  whole 
bay  for  a  commercial  town.  It  is  seven  miles,  a  little  east  of  north, 
from  this  place,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  bay,  and  has  long  been 
a  watering  point  for  vessels. 

"  An  attempt  has  recently  been  made  to  lay  off  and  build  up  a 
town  at  the  straits,  to  supersede  the  two  last-mentioned  places. 
It  will,  no  doubt,  however,  be  an  entire  failure. 

"  San  Francisco  bay  being  the  safest  and  most  commodious  har 
bour  on  the  entire  coast  of  the  Pacific,  some  point  on  it  must  be 
the  great  mart  of  the  Western  World.  We  believe  Yerba  Buena 
is  the  point,  commanding,  as  it  does  now,  all  the  trade  of  the  sur 
rounding  country,  and  there  being  already  a  large  amount  of  capi 
tal  concentrated  here. 

"  The  town  of  Yerba  Buena  is  called,  in  some  of  the  old  maps 
of  the  country,  San  Francisco.  It  is  not  known  by  that  name 
here,  however. 

"  The  town  takes  its  name  from  an  herb  to  be  found  all  around 
it,  which  is  said  to  make  good  tea,  and  possessing  excellent  me 
dicinal  qualities ;  it  is  called  good  herb,  or  Yerba  Buena." 

The  Honourable  Wiliard  P.  Hall,  member  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  United  States,  who,  it  will  be  seen  in  a  sub 
sequent  chapter,  brought  opportunity  and  intelligence  to  the  proper 
determination  of  the  geographical  character  of  the  country,  thus 
expressed  himself: — "As  to  California,  I  am  not  prepared  to 
speak  with  much  certainty.  All  I  can  say  is,  the  climate  is  de 
lightful,  the  situation  is  excellent,  but  the  soil  is  not  to  compare 
with  ours  (of  Missouri.)  It  rains  but  little,  and  crops  can  only  be 
raised  by  irrigating  the  land.  California  is  a  good  stock  country, 
the  grass  is  now  green,  and  resembles  ours  in  May.  I  am  told 


NEW  MEXICO. 


every  thing  is  parched  up  in  summer.  The  valleys  are  small, 
and  the  mountains  many  and  extensive." 

On  the  other  hand,  publications  giving  an  enthusiastic  commen 
dation  of  California  have  appeared  in  the  newspapers  of  the  day, 
but  generally  without  the  name  of  the  author,  whereby  their  ex 
perience  might  be  tested. 

New  Mexico,  lying  eastward  of  Upper  California,  and  separated 
from  it  by  the  mountain  chain  of  the  Sierra  Madre,  has,  as  already 
observed,  never  been  accurately  defined.  It  may,  for  all  useful 
purposes,  be  restricted  to  the  narrow  valley  of  the  Upper  Rio 
Grande.  The  name  of  "New  Mexico"  was  applied  by  the  early 
Spanish  conquerors  to  their  possessions  along  the  north-west  coast. 
Under  later  Mexican  viceroys,  "New  Mexico"  referred  to  the 
intendancy  on  the  Rio  Grande.  In  1803,  Humboldt  supposed 
this  intendancy  to  contain  44,000  square  miles,  and  40,000  inhabit 
ants.  Lieut.  Abert,  who  accompanied  Gen.  Kearny  to  Santa  Fe, 
estimates  the  population,  from  official  records  that  fell  under  his 
inspection  at  Santa  Fe,  at  about  100,000.  Humboldt  and  all  others 
who  have  described  this  country,  represent  it  as  generally  sterile, 
and,  for  its  latitude,  excessively  cold — the  coldness  compared  with 
its  latitude  proving  its  great  elevation  above  the  oceanic  level.  "It 
would  be  presumption  to  assign  an  area,  even  approximately,  to  a 
country  not  one  outline  of  which  we  can  fix  with  any  exactness."* 
It  is  true  that  Humboldt  lays  down  the  boundary,  but  changes  have 
so  altered  the  acceptation  of  the  geographical  term  "New  Mexico," 
as  to  produce  the  conclusion  at  which  Mr.  Darby  arrives.  Of 
other  particulars  of  this  country,  enough  will,  perhaps,  be  said  in 
the  course  of  the  military  narrative,  to  render  our  sketches  intelli 
gible  to  the  general  reader.  Those  who  seek  a  more  detailed 
knowledge  of  California  and  New  Mexico,  will  doubtless  refer  to 
the  very  interesting  and  able  works  here  quoted,  as  well  as  to 
others. 

•  Wm.  Darbj. 


MILITARY"  OPERATIONS  IN  MEXICO.  29 


CHAPTER    III. 

Principal  Military  and  Naval  events  of  the  Mexican  War,  antecedent  to,  and 
cotemporaneous  with  the  operations  of  the  forces  in  California  and  New 
Mexico. 

A  SERIES  of  military  achievements  more  uninterruptedly  suc 
cessful  than  history  has  record  of,  already  covers  the  reputation 
of  Scott  and  Taylor,  and  of  their  Generals,  together  with  that  of 
their  coadjutors,  with  such  renown  as  will  for  ever  form  a  part  of 
the  inheritance  of  American  patriotism.  It  is  not  within  the 
scope  of  this  work  to  enlarge  upon  their  fame,  however  grateful 
the  undertaking,  but  rather  to  enumerate  in  this  chapter,  somewhat 
chronologically,  their  principal  battles,  &c. ;  so  that  when  events, 
which  so  greatly  distinguished  the  skill  and  energy  of  commanders 
and  their  conrades  in  another  quarter  of  the  war,  come  to  be  here 
spoken  of,  they  may  readily  be  compared  in  point  of  time  with 
like  heroic  deeds  of  their  fellow  soldiers  further  south. 

General  Taylor  took  position,  at  Corpus  Christi,  on  the  15th 
August,  1845 ;  from  thence  moved  westward,  on  the  llth  March, 
1846  ;  and,  on  the  28th  of  same  month,  reached  the  east  bank  of 
the  Rio  Grande,  opposite  to  Matamoras.  These  movements  were 
made  in  pursuance  of  orders  from  the  War  Department,  issued 
28th  May,  1845,  and  13th  January,  1846. 

Mexican  battery  opened  on  Fort  Brown,  May  3d,  1846. 

Matamoras  occupied  by  the  American  forces  under  Major- 
general  Taylor,  May  18,  1846. 

Tampico,  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  taken  possession  of  by  Com 
modore  Perry,  November  14,  1846. 

Saltillo  occupied,  by  Major-general  Taylor,  Nov.  16,  1846. 

Occupation  of  Victoria,  by  Brigadier-general  duitman,  Dec. 
29,  1846.  ,*  <  . 

Alvarado  occupied  by  Commodore  Perry  and  Brigadier-general 
Quitman,  April  2,  1847. 
el 


30 


MILITARY   OPERATIONS  IN   MEXICO. 


Tuspan  taken  by  the  naval  forces,  April  18,  1847. 

Tabasco  captured  by  Commodore  Perry,  June  16,  1847. 

Brigadier-general  Wool,  in  command  of  the  centre  division  of 
U.  S.  Army,  arrived,  with  an  aggregate  force  of  1954  men,  from 
San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  at  the  left  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande,  near 
Presidio,  on  the  8th  October  ;  entered  Santa  Rosa,  in  Chihuahua, 
on  the  24th  of  same  month ;  occupied  Monclova,  in  Coahuila, 
on  3d  November ;  arrived  at  Parras,  December  5,  and  thence,  on 
same  month  of  1846,  reached  Saltillo,  to  participate  afterwards, 
gloriously,  in  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista. 

Major-general  Scott  departed  from  the  capital  of  the  United 
States,  on  24th  November,  1846,  to  assume  command  in  chief  of 
the  army.  Sailed  from  New  Orleans  on  23d  December,  1846 — 
visited,  with  his  staff,  Brazos  Santiago,  Tampico,  and  the  Island 
of  Lobos,  and  landed  with  the  army  from  the  fleet,  on  the  9th 
March,  1847. 

As  condensation  is  appropriate  in  matters  which  only  collaterally 
appertain  to  our  narrative,  the  most  prominent  battles  of  the  south 
are  collected,  from  official  despatches,  in  the  following  tabular 
form: 


AMERICAN. 

MEXICAN. 

Battle*. 

Date. 

|| 

1 

3 

ll 

i 

I 

2 

§ 

1 

I 

I 

Pak)  Alto 

May  8,  1846     - 

2,288 

9 

44 

6,000 

100 

400 

Res.de  la  Palina 
Monterey 
Buena  Vista 
Vera  Cruz 

May  9,  1846 
Sep.  23  &  24,  1846 
Feb.  22  &  23,  1847 
March  9  to  27, 

1,700 
6,645 
4,759 
13,470 

39 
120 
267 
11 

82 
368 
456 
55 

6,000 
10,000 
20,000 
8,000 

100 
500 
500 
400 

400 
800 
1,500 
600 

136 

294 
5,000 

Cerro  Gordo 
Contreros 
Churubusco 
Molino  del  Rey 
Chapultepec 
City  of  Mexico 

April  17  &  18, 
August  19, 
August  20, 
September  8, 
Sept.  12  &  13, 
September  14, 

8,500 
2,000 
8,497 
3,100 
7,180 
6,000 

63 

116 
\  130 

407 
877 
655 
703 

12,000 
8,000 
30,000 
14,000 
25,000 
30,000 

500 
750 
500 
3000  kii 

70012,837 
1,0001,500 
1,000(1,100 

I'd,  w'ded  It  prn. 

2,ooo|3'000 

I  w 

Major-general  Taylor's  despatch,  of  17th  May,  1846,  gives  the 
enemy's  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  in  the  two  affairs  of 
the  8th  and  9th  of  May,  as  1000  men,  "moderately estimated."  The 


MILITARY   OPERATIONS  IN  MEXICO.  31 

Mexican  account  sets  down  their  loss,  in  the  two  actions,  as  262 
killed,  355  wounded,  and  135  prisoners. 

The  despatch  of  March  6,  1847,  from  Major-general  Taylor, 
fixes  the  Mexican  force,  at  Buena  Vista,  at  20,000,  "  as  stated  in 
Santa  Anna's  summons,  and  as  confirmed  by  all  the  information 
since  obtained;"  and  states  that  their  killed  and  wounded  "may 
be  fairly  estimated  at  1500,  and  will  probably  reach  2000." 

The  Mexican  loss  at  Monterey  was  never  ascertained ;  it  was 
estimated  at  some  one  or  two  thousand  killed  and  wounded. 

The  Mexicans  estimated  their  loss,  during  the  bombardment  of 
Vera  Cruz,  at  nearly  one  thousand  killed  and  wounded. 

Major-general  Scott's  despatch,  of  April  23d,  1847,  gives  our 
"whole  force  present,  in  action  and  in  reserve,"  as  8500,  and 
estimates  the  enemy's  at  12,000  or  more.  "About  3000  prisoners, 
4  or  5000  stand  of  arms,  and  43  pieces  of  artillery  were  taken." 
And  computes  the  enemy's  loss,  at  Cerro  Gordo,  to  have  been 
from  1000  to  1200. 


GENERAL  SUMMARY 

From  Gen,  Scott's  Despatches  of  September  18,  1847. 

AUGUST  19,  20. — Killed,  137,  including  14  officers.  Wounded,  877,  including 
62  officers.  Missing,  (probably  killed,)  38  rank  and  file.  Total,  1,052. 

SEPTEMBER  8. — Killed,  116,  including  9  officers.  Wounded,  665,  including 
49  officers.  Missing,  18  rank  and  file.  Total,  789. 

SEPTEMBER  12,  13,  14.— Killed,  130,  including  10  officers.  Wounded,  703, 
including  68  officers.  Missing,  29  rank  and  file.  Total,  862. 

Grand  total  of  losses,  2,703,  including  383  officers. 

On  the  other  hand,  this  small  force  has  beaten,  on  the  same  occasions,  in  view 
of  their  capital,  the  whole  Mexican  array,  of  (at  the  beginning)  thirty  odd  thou 
sand  men,  posted  always  in  chosen  positions,  behind  intrenchments,  or  more  for 
midable  defences  of  nature  and  art :  killed  or  wounded  of  that  number  more  than 
7,000  officers  and  men ;  taken  3,730  prisoners,  one-seventh  officers,  including 
13  generals,  of  whom  three  had  been  Presidents  of  this  Republic;  captured  more 
than  20  colours  and  standards,  75  pieces  of  ordnance,  besides  57  wall-pieces, 
20,000  small-arms,  an  immense  quantity  of  shots,  shells,  powder,  &c.  « 

Of  that  enemy,  once  so  formidable  in  numbers,  appointments,  artillery,  &c., 
twenty  odd  thousand  have  disbanded  themselves  in  despair,  leaving,  as  is  known, 
not  more  than  three  fragments — the  largest  about  2,500 — now  wandering  in  dif 
ferent  directions,  without  magazines  or  a  military  chest,  and  living  at  free  quar 
ters  upon  their  own  people. 


32  ARMY  OF  THE  WEST. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

"Army  of  the  West" — Purpose  of  the  greatest  importance — Gen.  Kearny 
— Orders  and  instructions  for  New  Mexico  and  Upper  California — Civil 
governments — Forces  organized  at  Fort  Leavenworth — Capture  of  Santa  Fe— - 
Proclamations,  &c. — Legislative  and  Executive  action  thereon — Expedition 
— Fort — Treaties  with  Indians,  &c.— Orders  to  Col.  Doniphan,  &c. — Marches 
for  Upper  California. 

THE  existence  of  the  war  with  Mexico  having  been  recognised 
by  the  act  of  Congress  of  May  13,  1846,  the  Executive  of  the 
United  States  prepared  to  prosecute  it  with  the  utmost  vigour. 
The  ports  of  Mexico  on  the  Gulf,  and  on  the  Pacific,  were  placed 
under  blockade,  and  her  territory  invaded  at  several  important 
points.  The  operations  on  the  Gulf,  and  of  our  armies  in  the 
south  of  Mexico,  have  been  rapidly  sketched  in  the  last  chapter ; 
and,  if  it  be  true,  as  it  undoubtedly  is,  that  their  gallant  achieve 
ments  have  afforded  "  examples  of  courage  and  skill  scarcely  ex 
celled  in  the  history  of  military  operations"*  it  is  equally  a 
subject  of  patriotic  exultation  that  our  army  and  navy  have  earned 
unfading  laurels  on  the  Pacific,  and  in  the  north. 

The  rapid  and  almost  bloodless  movements  by  which  a  territory, 
vast  and  extensive  as  one-third  of  our  entire  Union,  has  been  sub 
jugated,  are  not  alone  objects  of  the  deepest  interest  from  the  mo 
mentous  consideration,  that  the  Conquest  of  California  and  New 
Mexico  may  have  finally  dissolved  the  political  ties  which  bound 
these  States  to  Mexico,  and  this  consummation  eventually  become 
the  principal  result  of  the  Mexican  war ;  but  that  an  absorbing 
interest  is  created  by  the  romantic  and  perilous  enterprises  of  the 
small  "  Army  of  the  West,"  led,  for  thousands  of  miles,  through 
unexplored  regions — across  trackless  deserts  and  arid  plains — or 
over  mountains  and  through  defiles  whither  the  foot  of  civilized 
man  had  seldom,  if  eyer  penetrated — now  victoriously  contending 

*  W.  L.  Marcy,  Secretary  of  War. 


ARMY  OF  THE  WEST. 

against  vastly  superior  numbers  of  Mexicans,  and  anon  chastising 
savage  tribes  of  Indians  for  cruelties  and  robberies  perpetrated  on 
an  enemy,  from  a  bloody  contest  with  whom  they  had  issued,  with 
scarce  time  enough  to  bind  up  their  wounds,  or  wipe  the  dust  of 
battle  from  their  brows.  In  fact,  it  will  be  seen  that  an  "almost 
fabulous"  interest  attended  the  expeditions  of  our  military  and 
naval  forces  in  the  west  and  north-west,  apart  from  their  great  poli 
tical  importance,  which  has  already  engrossed  so  much  legislative 
discussion,  and  still  occupies  the  press  and  the  minds  of  the  people. 

That  the*  vigilance  of  our  government  was  early  directed  to  the 
vulnerable  points  of  Mexico,  was  apparent  from  the  position  of  our 
fleets  and  forces  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  The  "Army  of 
the  West"  was  one  of  those  instruments  chosen  by  the  executive, 
at  the  earliest  period  of  hostilities,  to  execute,  in  conjunction  with 
the  Pacific  squadron,  a  purpose  of  "the  greatest  importance." 
And  well  and  nobly  did  this  little  band  of  regulars  and  volunteers 
accomplish  the  object  of  their  enrolment. 

Simultaneously  with  the  recognition  of  the  war  between  the 
United  States  and  Mexico,  the  President  was  authorized  to  accept 
the  services  of  volunteers,  not  to  exceed  50,000,  to  serve  for  the 
period  of  twelve  months,  or  to  the  end  of  the  war.  Immediately 
twenty-six  regiments  were  called  for  from  the  western  and  south 
western  States.  A  regiment  of  mounted  volunteers,  thus  called 
out  from  Missouri,  were  mustered  into  service,  on  the  6th  of  June, 
1846,  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  where,  under  orders  from  the  War 
Department,  five  companies  of  the  First  Regiment  United  States 
Dragoons,  with  one  volunteer  troop  of  horse,  two  companies  of  foot, 
and  two  of  light  artillery  volunteers  from  St.  Louis,  were  being 
concentrated  to  compose  an  expedition  to  Santa  Fe. 

To  the  command  of  this  force,  afterwards  increased  as  its  pur 
poses  were  enlarged,  Col.  Stephen  W.  Kearny,  of  the  First  Regi 
ment  United  States  Dragoons,  was  designated. 

Col.  Kearny  ranked  very  high  as  an  energetic  and  accom 
plished  officer,  and  his  long  service  in  the  west,  on  the  frontier  and 
among  the  Indians,  had  admirably  qualified  him  to  direct  this  very 
difficult  and  distant  enterprise  to  a  successful  termination. 


GENERAL  KEARNY. 

s*s*s*sv*s*s*J*~>***S***^s^ 

The  gallant  achievements  of  Colonel,  now  Brigadier-general 
Kearny,  require  some  biographical  notice  of  one  who  has  won  for 
himself  rank  among  the  most  distinguished  of  our  American  gene 
rals.  It  is  hoped  that  the  concise  sketch  here  given  will  be  found, 
at  least  accurate,  though  far  short  of  the  subject. 

Stephen  W.  Kearny  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  where  his  parents 
then  resided,  although  they  belonged  to  one  of  the  old  colonial 
families  of  New  York.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  young  Kearny 
was  placed  at  Columbia  College,  New  York  city,  to  complete  his 
education.  Here  he  much  endeared  himself  to  his  classmates  and 
companions  ;  always  punctiliously  respectful  and  courteous  in  his 
deportment,  he  never  wounded  the  feeling  of  others,  while  the 
serenity  and  equableness  of  his  temper,  joined  to  his  unpretend 
ing  modesty,  stern  integrity,  and  cool  and  resolute  determination 
of  character,  won  the  highest  respect  of  all  his  acquaintances.  In 
fact,  he  possessed  in  himself,  and  in  his  nature,  so  much  of  high 
and  chivalrous  feeling,  that  he  may  be  almost  said  to  have  been 
born  a  soldier.  It  may  not,  therefore,  be  surprising  that,  when  the 
late  war  with  Great  Britain  was  about  to  be  declared,  no  persua 
sions  of  his  friends  or  family  could  delay  young  Kearny  from 
leaving  his  collegiate  studies — though,  as  he  was  just  about  to 
graduate  with  honour  to  himself,  it  is  presumed  his  diploma  followed 
him  in  a  few  weeks — and  seeking  a  commission,  which  was  be 
stowed  upon  him,  as  first-lieutenant  of  Thirteenth  Infantry,  on  the 
12th  March,  1812.  He  repaired  promptly  to  his  post  on  the  Nia 
gara  frontier ;  and,  in  the  fall  of  1812,  participated  in  the  battle  of 
dueenstown  Heights,  where,  with  others,  he  was  taken  prisoner. 
Having  been  exchanged,  we  find  him  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in 
the  First  Infantry,  on  the  1st  of  April,  1813.  He  is  known  to  have 
served  through  the  war  of  1812,  with  the  reputation  of  a  gallant, 
intelligent,  and  energetic  officer,  who  gave  every  promise  of  rising 
to  high  distinction,  should  opportunity  offer  itself.  On  the  1st  of 
May,  1829,  he  was  appointed  major  of  the  Third  Infantry,  of  which 
he  had  been  brevet-major  since  April  1,  1823.  On  the  organi 
zation  of  the  First  Dragoons,  March  4,  1833,  he  was  made  the 
lieutenant-colonel;  and,  on  the  4th  July,  1836,  he  became  tha 


GENERAL  KEARNY.  35 


colonel  of  that  regiment.  For  the  last  fifteen  or  twenty  years,  he 
has  been  stationed  in  the  far  west — at  St.  Louis,  and  generally  at 
Fort  Leavenworth,  on  the  Missouri — in  the  dragoon  service.  He 
has  made  frequent  reconnoissances,  in  military  expeditions,  in  that 
region.  In  1845,  he  marched,  with  five  companies  of  his  regi 
ment,  at  least  2200  miles,  as  a  summer  campaign,  in  99  days, 
through  the  Indian  country,  a  considerable  portion  of  it  a  barren 
wilderness,  carrying  their  provisions  and  stores  with  them,  and  their 
horses  subsisting  on  the  grass  of  the  prairies.  This  tour  swept 
westward  until  it  fell  on  the  Oregon  trail ;  thence  to  the  Nebraska, 
&c.,  to  Fort  Laramie ;  thence  to  the  "  South  Pass,"  and  to  the 
waters  of  the  Green  river,  on  the  Colorado  of  the  West ;  and  from 
thence  returned,  by  a  route  leading  them  some  hundreds  of  miles 
further  south,  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 
Thus  Col.  Kearny  had  acquired  such  knowledge  of  the  phy 
sical  features  of  the  country,  of  the  Indian  habits,  and  of  the 
resources  of  a  western  life,  as  amply  qualified  him  to  act  the  pio 
neer  and  commanding  officer  of  the  expedition  which  he  so  suc 
cessfully  conducted  to  Santa  Fe,  and  afterwards  extended  to  Cali 
fornia.  In  personal  appearance  he  has  much  the  look  and  carriage 
of  the  soldier — of  good  stature,  erect,  and  well  formed,  his  sun-burnt 
and  somewhat  care-worn  countenance  presents  still  a  face  of  oval 
proportions,  intelligent,  and  dignified  repose  ;  while  the  short  black 
hair,  rapidly  verging  into  gray,  and  keen  eye,  indicate  the  energy 
of  the  man  and  the  soldier.  Col.  Kearny  married  the  step-daughter 
of  the  celebrated  Wm.  Clark,  of  St.  Louis,  who  penetrated, 
with  Meriwether  Lewis,  to  the  Columbia  river,  in  1804-5-6 ;  and 
is  said  to  be  rich,  and  independent  of  the  profession  of  arms,  which 
he  has  long  followed,  and  for  which  he  is  said  ever  to  have  had  an 
unconquerable  predilection. 

The  projected  movements  of  Col.  Kearny  on  Santa  Fe  were 
looked  to  with  the  most  intense  interest  in  Missouri,  where  so 
many  volunteers  were  anxious  to  get  into  the  saddle,  and  take  a 
part  in  the  gallant  enterprise.  However  great  the  enthusiasm, 
which  even  carried  a  delegation  of  seventy  ladies  up  from  St.  Louis 
to  Fort  Leavenworth,  to  present  a  flag  to  the  Clay  county  volun- 


36  PREPARATIONS  AT  FORT  LEAVENWORTH. 

teers,  it  was  not  deemed  necessary  to  accept  the  services  of  other 
than  eight  companies  of  mounted  men  from  Missouri,  under  Col. 
Doniphan,  and  Capt.  Hudson's  company  of  dragoons,  "  Lacleda 
Rangers,"  of  St.  Louis,  who  served  with  the  United  States  dra 
goons — a  compliment  to  their  discipline  and  efficiency ;  Major 
Clark's  flying  artillery  battalion,  composed  of  Capt.  Fischer's 
and  Capt.  Weightman's  companies,  of  St.  Louis ;  and  two  com 
panies  of  volunteer  infantry,  under  Capts.  Angney  and  Murphy, 
from  Missouri. 

The  preparations  were  pushed  forward  with  the  utmost  vigour. 
Ordnance,  subsistence,  near  a  thousand  mules  for  draught,  several 
hundred  horses  for  the  ordnance,  and  for  mounting  the  dragoons, 
at  least  three  hundred  wagons,  baggage  trains,  &c.,and  other  stores 
in  proportion,  were  collected  in  June.  The  volunteers,  during  this 
month,  as  they  successively  reached  Fort  Leavenworth,  were 
drilled  and  instructed,  so  that — containing  within  themselves  many 
an  old  campaigner  and  hardy  trapper  of  the  western  wilds  and 
Rocky  Mountains — it  was  then  apparent,  as  it  subsequently  proved, 
"  they  could  not  be  beat" 

With  an  energy  that  "  gave  assurance  of  the  end" — the  faithful 
and  gallant  performance  of  the  duties  assigned  to  them — four 
talented  young  officers  of  the  United  States  Topographical  En 
gineers,  Lieuts.  William  H.  Emory,  W.  H.  Warner,  J.  W. 
Abert,  and  W.  G.  Peck,  hurried  on  from  the  seat  of  govern 
ment,  and  quickly  completing,  at  St.  Louis,  their  equipment  for 
the  campaign,  arranging  their  instruments,  &c.,  reported  to  Col. 
Kearny. 

While  thus  preparing  at  the  general  rendezvous,  rumours  ar 
rived  from  Santa  Fe,  of  various  species  of  hostile  reception  they 
might  expect — one,  which  was  reasonably  near  the  truth,  that 
Governor  Armijo  was  at  Moro,  about  ninety  miles  this  side  of 
Santa  Fe,  with  about  four  thousand  men,  ready  to  engage  with 
any  force  that  the  United  States  might  send  against  them.  Two 
companies  of  dragoons  were  despatched  to  intercept  a  party  of 
Mexican  traders,  who  were  charged,  erroneously  as  it  appeared, 
afterwards,  with  conveying  to  Santa  Fe  a  large  quantity  of  arm3< 


COL.  KEARNY'S  INSTRUCTIONS.  37 

and  ammunition,  while  other  peaceful  traders  were  assured  that 
private  property  and  rights  would  be  respected. 

It  was  while  thus  energetically  occupied  in  mustering,  ordering, 
and  disciplining  his  forces,  that  Col.  Kearny  received,  from  the 
Secretary  of  War,  the  highly  important  instructions,*  of  June  3, 
1846,  informing  him,  that  "it  had  been  decided  by  the  President 
to  be  of  the  greatest  importance  in  the  pending  war  with  Mexico, 
to  take  the  earliest  possession  of  Upper  California."  That  an 
expedition  with  that  view  was  "hereby  ordered,"  and  that  he  was 
designated  to  command  it.  And  that,  to  enable  him  to  be  in  suffi 
cient  force  to  conduct  it  successfully,  an  additional  force  of  a  thou 
sand  mounted  men  had  been  called  for,  from  the  governor  of  the 
state  of  Missouri,  to  follow  him  in  the  direction  of  Santa  Fe,  and 
to  be  under  his  orders,  or  the  officer  he  might  leave  in  command 
at  Santa  Fe. 

-In  this  communication,  Col.  Kearny  was  told  that  it  was  deemed 
prudent  the  object  of  adding  to  the  force  under  his  command 
should  not,  at  that  time,  become  a  matter  of  public  notoriety. 

It  was  supposed  the  additional  force  would  be  behind  that  or 
dered  for  the  Santa  Fe  expedition,  probably  not  more  than  three 
weeks.  That,  should  he  take  possession  of  Santa  Fe  with  the 
force  already  called  out,  and  find  himself  in  a  condition  to  garri 
son  it  with  a  small  part  of  his  command,  (as  the  additional  force 
would  soon  be  at  that  place,)  he  should  with  the  remainder  press 
forward  to  California,  and  make  such  arrangements  as  to  being 
followed  by  the  reinforcements  before  mentioned,  as  he  might 
deem  safe  and  prudent.  The  Secretary  cautioned  him  to  provide 
for  retaining  safe  possession  of  Santa  Fe,  including  the  State  of 
New  Mexico ;  and  should  Col.  Kearny  deem  it  prudent  to  have 
still  more  troops  for  the  objects  designated  in  the  communication, 
he  should  lose  no  time  in  forwarding  to  the  department  his  opinion 
on  that  point,  and  on  all  others  connected  with  the  enterprise^  "^Tr 
fact,  he  was  authorized  to  make  a  direct  requisition  on  the  gover- 


*  As  this  is  an  interesting  document,  though  here  closely  followed,  it  is  given 
in  the  Appendix,  No.  1. 


38  COL.  KEARNY'S  INSTRUCTIONS. 

nor  of  Missouri.  He  was  informed  that  a  large  body  of  Mormon 
emigrants  were  en  route  to  California,  to  settle  there,  and  desired 
to  use  "  all  proper  means  to  have  a  good  understanding  with  them, 
to  the  end  that  the  United  States  might  have  their  co-operation  in 
taking  possession  of,  and  holding,  that  territory."  To  aid  in  the 
expedition  against  California,  he  was  authorized  to  induce  to  vo- 
,lunteer  into  the  service  a  number  not  exceeding  one-third  of  his 
entire  force,  to  be  paid  as  other  volunteers,  and  to  allow  them,  so 
far  as  it  could  properly  be  done,  to  designate  their  own  officers. 
It  was  supposed  that  a  considerable  number  of  American  citizens, 
well  disposed  towards  the  United  States,  were  then  settled  on  the 
Sacramento  river,  near  Suter's  establishment,  called  "Nueva 
Helvetia,"  and,  should  he  find  such  to  be  the  true  state  of  things 
fhere,  he  was  authorized  to  organize,  and  receive  into  the  service, 
such  portion  of  these  citizens  as  he  might  think  useful  to  aid  him 
in  holding  possession  of  the  country,  allowing  them  to  select  their 
own  officers  so  far  as  he  should  judge  proper. 

The  choice  of  routes  to  enter  California,  was  left  to  his  judg 
ment,  and  more  ample  means  of  accurate  information,  but  a  south 
ern  route  (called  the  Caravan  route,  by  which  the  wild  horses  are 
brought  from  that  country  into  New  Mexico)  was  intimated  as 
practicable ;  and  it  was  suggested  as  not  improbable,  that  it  could 
be  passed  over  in  the  winter,  or  at  least  late  in  autumn. 

The  Secretary  advised  him,  that,  should  the  President  be  disap 
pointed  in  his  cherished  hope  of  his  being  able  to  reach  the  inte 
rior  of  Upper  California  before  winter,  he  should  make  the  best 
arrangements  he  could  for  sustaining  his  forces  during  the  winter, 
and  make  an  early  movement  in  the  spring.  That,  though  very 
desirable  the  expedition  should  reach  California  that  season,  (the 
President  not  doubting  he  would  make  every  possible  effort  to  ac 
complish  it,)  yet,  if  in  his  judgment  it  could  not  be  undertaken 
with  reasonable  prospect  of  success,  he  should  defer  it,  as  before 
suggested,  until  spring. 

Col.  Kearny  was  informed  it  was  expected  the  naval  forces  of 
the  United  States  were  there,  or  soon  would  be,  in  the  Pacific,  and 
in  possession  of  all  the  towns  on  the  sea-coast,  and  that  they  would 


COL.  KEARNY'S  INSTRUCTIONS.  39 


co-operate  with  him  in  the  conquest  of  California.  That  arms, 
ordnance,  munitions  of  war  and  provisions,  to  be  used  in  the 
country,  would  be  sent  by  sea  to  the  squadron  in  the  Pacific  for 
the  land  forces. 

Should  he  conquer  and  take  possession  of  New  Mexico  and 
California,  or  considerable  places  in  either,  Col.  Kearny  was  or 
dered  to  establish  civil  governments  therein — abolishing  all  exist 
ing  arbitrary  restrictions,  so  far  as  might  be  done  with  safety,  and 
in  this  it  would  be  wise  and  prudent  to  continue  all  such  exist 
ing  officers  as  were  known  to  be  friendly  to  the  United  States, 
and  would  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  them.  He  was  advised 
the  duties  at  the  custom-houses  ought,  at  once,  to  be  reduced  to 
such  rate  as  would  be  barely  sufficient  to  maintain  the  necessary 
officers.  He  was  authorized  to  assure  the  people  of  those  pro 
vinces,  that  it  was  the  wish  and  design  of  the  United  States  to 
provide  for  them  a  free  government,  with  the  least  possible  delay, 
similar  to  that  which  existed  in  the  territories,  and  then  they 
would  be  called  on  to  exercise  the  rights  of  freemen  in  electing 
their  own  representatives  to  the  territorial  legislature. 

That  it  was  foreseen  that  what  related  to  the  civil  government 
would  be  a  difficult  and  unpleasant  part  of  his  duty,  and  much 
must  necessarily  be  left  to  his  own  discretion,  and  his  whole  con 
duct  must  be  so  regulated  as  best  to  conciliate  the  inhabitants,  and 
render  them  friendly  to  the  United  States. 

The  Secretary  of  War  instructs  him  that  it  is  desirable  the  trade 
between  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  and  the  Mexican  pro 
vinces  should,  as  usual,  be  continued  as  far  as  practicable  under 
the  changed  condition  of  things  between  the  two  countries  ;  cau 
tions  him  to  increase  his  supply  of  goods  to  be  distributed  as  pre 
sents  to  the  Indians  ;  informs  him  that  he  will  be  furnished  with 
a  proclamation,  in  the  Spanish  language,  to  be  issued  among  the 
Mexican  people  by  him  on  his  entering  into  or  approaching  their 
country,  and  that  he  must  use  his  utmost  endeavours  to  have  the 
pledges  and  promises  therein  contained  carried  out  to  the  utmost 
extent ;  and,  finally,  the  Secretary  tells  Col.  Kearny,  in  conclu 
sion  of  this  communication,  marked  "  confidential,"  that  he  was 


40  MARCH  FROM  FORT   LEAVENWORTH. 


directed  by  the  President  to  say,  that  the  rank  of  brevet  brigadier- 
general  would  be  conferred  on  him  as  soon  as  he  commenced  his 
movement  towards  California,  and  sent  round  to  him  by  sea,  or 
over  the  country,  or  to  the  care  of  the  commandant  of  our  squad 
ron  in  the  Pacific,  and  that  in  that  way  cannon,  arms,  ammuni 
tion,  and  supplies  for  the  land  forces  would  be  sent  to  him. 

Two  days  after  the  date  of  the  above  instruction,  the  following 
letter  of  the  Secretary  of  War  was  forwarded  to  Col.  Kearny. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
Washington,  June  5th,  1846. 

SIR  : — I  enclosed  to  you  a  few  copies  of  a  proclamation  pre 
pared  for  Gen.  Taylor,  to  issue  to  the  Mexicans.  I  discover 
that  there  are  parts  of  it  that  will  not  answer  our  purpose  for 
Santa  Fe  or  Upper  California.  You  will  not,  therefore,  use  these 
copies.  It  is  intended  to  make  the  needful  alterations  in  it,  and, 
thus  altered,  send  on  copies  to  you  before  you  will  have  occasion 
to  distribute  them.  I  must,  however,  urge  you  not  to  use  those 
which  have  been  forwarded. 

Subsequently,  Congress  were  informed  that  "no  proclamation, 
modified  as  proposed,  was  sent"  to  Col.  Kearny — that  "no  pro 
clamation  for  circulation  was  ever  furnished  to  Gen.  Kearny. 
"A  few  copies  of  that  prepared  for,  and  sent  to,  Gen.  Taylor, 
were  forwarded  to  Gen.  Kearny,  but  he  was  requested  not  to  use 
them.  These  copies  were  the  only  proclamations  sent  T>y  the 
War  Department  to  him,"  and  that  the  Department  "are  not 
aware  that  he  ever  used  any  of  them." 

By  the  last  days  of  June,  the  energy  and  activity  of  Col. 
Kearny,  of  his  officers,  and  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  had  per 
fected  the  arrangements  at  Fort  Leavenworth.  All  were  impa 
tient  for  action — every  thing  promised  fairly — the  troops  were  in 
excellent  health  and  spirits — the  horses  in  better  condition  than 
when  they  came  there.  The  trumpet  sounded — then  came  the 
joyous  spring  into  the  saddle  of  the  dragoons  and  mounted  men — 
the  roll  of  the  infantry  drums — the  artillerists  harnessing  up  their 
draft  horses  and  maneuvering  with  the  "big  guns" — and  they 


BENT'S  FORT.  41 

»^/s^/Nyv^^^^^/^^^^'^^^y^^v^^^^N/^^^ 

were  off  on  their  distant  tramp,  over  a  wild  country,  where,  for 
hundreds  of  miles,  a  long  train  of  baggage  and  provision  wagons 
carried,  through  tribes  of  savage  and  thieving  Indians,  their  only 
support — until  "  they  met  the  enemy  and  they  were  theirs." 

Col.  Kearny's  well-known  experience  had  been  fully  exercised 
in  putting  the  column  in  motion,  so  that  the  successive  battalions, 
stock  animals,  trains,  &c.,  might  not  interfere  with  the  subsistence, 
foraging,  and  celerity  of  the  march. 

On  the  27th,  the  Topographical  Engineers  started  for  the  prai 
ries,  ahead  of  the  main  column.  They  had  with  them  some  eight 
or  ten  "voyageurs,"  several  pack  mules,  a  baggage  wagon,  and  a 
spring  car,  with  four  mules  harnessed  to  it,  to  carry  the  instru 
ments. 

The  movement  from  Fort  Leavenworth  having  been  com 
pleted,  the  troops  travelled  uninterruptedly  on  a  most  interesting 
route — "the  Santa  Fe  trace,"  too  often  described  to  be  necessary 
here;  until  about  the  1st.  of  August,  when  the  whole  original 
force  of  about  1657  men  concentrated  at  Bent's  Fort,  or  rather, 
for  the  convenience  of  grazing,  about  nine  miles  below.  They 
had  then  marched  564  miles  from  Fort  Leavenworth,  in  excellent 
order  and  fine  spirits,  without  an  accident,  and  in  improved  health 
and  discipline. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  the  two  infantry  companies  had  out 
marched,  and  reached,  on  foot,  the  fort  in  advance  of  the  mounted 
companies ;  and,  as  showing  the  precision  of  experienced  military 
combination,  and  the  energy  and  discipline  of  the  volunteers  as 
well  as  regulars,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  many  of  the  battalions 
arrived  at  the  hour,  and  the  whole  force  on  the  day  fixed  upon  by 
the  commander-in-chief. 

The  corrected  longitude  of  Bent's  Fort,  as  ascertained  by  Lieu 
tenant  Emory,  and  published  by  the  Topographical  Bureau,  is 
103°  25'  45"  west ;  and  latitude  38°  2'  53"  north.  It  is  distant 
from  Santa  Fe  exactly  309  miles. 

While  the  troops  rested  here,  for  four  or  five  days,  to  recover 
from  the  fatigues  of  the  march,  three  spies  from  New  Mexico  were 
brought  in,  and  were  so  promenaded  into — through — round  and 

D2 


42  COL.    KEARNY'S   PROCLAMATION. 

about,  and  round  about  again  the  different  encampments,  as  to  be 
made  to  entertain  a  very  lively  and  exaggerated  conception  of  the 
number  of  the  American  forces,  which  they  doubtless  reported, 
in  full,  to  Gov.  Armijo,  on  being  dismissed  unharmed  by  Col. 
Kearny,  with  a  message  that  he  would  see  the  governor  in  a  few 
days. 

At  Bent's  Fort,  Col.  Kearny  held  a  talk  with  the  Chyennes 
Indians,  advising  them  to  peaceful  pursuits,  &c.  Here,  also,  was 
promulgated  the  following : 

Proclamation  to  the  citizens  of  New  Mexico,  by  Colonel  Kearny, 
commanding  the  United  States  forces. 

The  undersigned  enters  New  Mexico  with  a  large  military  force, 
for  the  purpose  of  seeking  union  with  and  ameliorating  the  condi 
tion  of  its  inhabitants.  This  he  does  under  instructions  from  his 
government,  and  with  the  assurance  that  he  will  be  amply  sus 
tained  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  object.  It  is  enjoined  on  the 
citizens  of  New  Mexico  to  remain  quietly  at  their  homes,  and  to 
pursue  their  peaceful  avocations.  So  long  as  they  continue  in 
such  pursuits,  they  will  not  be  interfered  with  by  the  American 
army,  but  will  be  respected  and  protected  in  their  rights,  both  civil 
and  religious. 

All  who  take  up  arms  or  encourage  resistance  against  the  go 
vernment  of  the  United  States  will  be  regarded  as  enemies,  and 
will'be  treated  accordingly.  S.  W.  KEARNY, 

Colonel  First  Dragoons. 

CAMP  AT  BENT'S  FORT,  ON  THE  ARKANSAS,  July  3lst,  1846. 

At  Bent's  Fort,  as  at  Fort  Leaven  worth,  various  rumours  reached 
the  camp  of  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  By  some  it  was  said 
there  would  be  little  or  no  fighting ;  by  others,  that  the  Mexicans 
were  straining  every  nerve  to  fortify  Santa  Fe  and  Taos,  and  were, 
elsewhere,  marshalling  their  forces. 

The  ordnance  was  still  on  its  way  from  Fort  Leaven  worth, 
whence,  as  soon  as  prepared,  Lieut.  Warner,  of  Topographical 
Engineers,  had  been  left  to  bring  it  up  with  the  column.  This 


ARMIJO'S    LETTER.  43 

was  an  undertaking  not  so  easily  accomplished  with  the  only 
means  left — ox-teams — and,  although  this  officer  worked  "like  a 
beaver,"  and  struggled  ahead  with  characteristic  energy  and  per 
severance,  yet  he  was  unable  to  reach  Col.  Kearny  with  his 
charge,  until  after  the  occupation  of  Santa  Fe,  when  his  serviceable 
fatigue  and  labours  were  gratefully  and  very  complimentarily 
acknowledged  by  the  commander. 

On  the  3d  of  August,  Col.  Kearny,  having  determined  not  to 
wait  for  his  ordnance  train,  or  for  the  new  levies,  pushed  rapidly 
on,  that,  by  the  celerity  of  his  movements,  he  might  frustrate  any 
combination  of  the  forces  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  march,  several  hundred  horses  and  mules  had  to  be  left 
behind,  unable  longer  to  follow.  On  the  13th,  their  progress  had 
overcome  the  sandy  soil,  bad  quality  of  the  grass,  want  of  good 
water,  and  the  inconvenience  of  almost  insupportable  heat  and  hot 
winds ;  for  they  had  begun  to  ascend  the  great  chain  of  moun 
tains  running  north  and  south  on  the  west  side  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
and  had  reached  the  settlements. 

The  march  now  became  intensely  interesting.  Messengers 
arrived  from  Armijo  with  a  letter  to  Col.  Kearny,  in  answer  to 
one  sent  by  Capt.  Cooke,  of  Dragoons,  some  days  previous.  "  It 
was  a  sensible,  straight-forward  letter,  and  if  written  by  an  Ame 
rican,  or  by  an  Englishman,  would  have  meant  this :  You  have 
notified  me  that  you  intend  to  take  possession  of  the  country  I 
govern.  The  people  of  the  country  have  risen  in  mass  to  my  de 
fence.  If  you  get  the  country,  it  will  be  because  you  prove  the 
strongest  in  battle.  I  suggest  to  you  to  stop  at  the  Sapilla,  and  I 
will  march  to  the  Vegos.  We  will  meet  and  negotiate  on  the 
plains  between  them."* 

Messages  reached  the  advancing  columns  from  Americans  at 
Santa  Fe  and  other  towns,  stating  they  were  very  much  alarmed 
for  their  own  safety,  the  Mexicans  having  told  them  that,  if  they 
were  defeated,  they  would  return  and  take  full  vengeance  on  them. 
They  stated  variously  the  forces  which  had  gone  out  to  meet  the 
Americans. 

*  Lieut.  Emory's  Journal,  in  «  Union"  of  22d  Oct.  1846. 


44  JOURNAL. 

The  Spy  company,  in  advance,  met  four  well-mounted  and 
armed  Mexicans,  who  summoned  Capt.  Bent  and  his  small  party 
to  surrender,  but  quickly  concluded  it  would  be  most  advisable  to 
surrender  themselves,  and  accordingly  they  were  added  to  other 
prisoners  made  of  the  scouts  of  the  enemy.  Some  of  these  were 
disarmed,  and  sent  forth  to  the  villages  with  proclamations. 

On  the  14th,  the  order  of  march  was  the  order  of  battle.-— (Here  the 
author  finds  a  published  description  of  the  exciting  events  of  this 
period,  so  graphical  and  authentic,  that  he  fears  to  attempt  its  abridg 
ment,  as  well  on  account  of  its  great  interest,  as  that  he  must  avow  his 
inability  to  do  it  justice,  otherwise  than  by  copying  it  entire.)* 

"  Friday,  August  14. — Started  at  7  o'clock  ;  at  four  miles  met 
four  Mexicans  sent  by  Gov.  Armijo  to  Gen.  Kearny  with  a  letter. 
They  were  dragoons,  dressed  in  roundabout  and  pants  of  light 
blue  cloth,  similar  to  our  own  dragoons,  with  a  red  stripe  down  the 
outer  seam  of  the  pants.  They  all  wore  large  Mexican  hats  ; 
there  was  a  lieutenant,  sergeant  and  two  privates.  They  rode 
small  horses.  The  lieutenant  had  a  sabre  ;  the  others  were  armed 
with  carbines  and  lances.  They  made  a  very  respectable  appear 
ance,  but  such  soldiers  cannot  fight  United  States  dragoons.  Their 
heavy  horses  and  superior  equipment  will  conquer  them.  The 
four  dragoons  above  spoken  of,  and  those  taken  a  day  or  two  since, 
were  set  at  large  to-day.  The  colonel  told  them  that  he  had  come 
with  a  sufficient  force  to  extend  our  laws  over  them.  That  he 
came  as  their  friend.  That  he  came  to  give  protection  alike  to  the 
poor  man  and  the  rich.  That,  although  he  had  the  power  to  do 
as  he  pleased,  still  his  orders  were  to  treat  all  who  remained  at 
home  in  the  peaceful  pursuit  of  their  business,  as  friends.  But, 
that  if  found  in  arms  against  him,  the  vengeance  of  his  government 
and  army  would  be  poured  out  upon  them.  He  told  them  that, 
not  'an  onion  or  a  pepper  would  be  taken  from  them  without  a 
full  equivalent  in  cash  ;'  that  their  persons,  property  and  religion, 


*  It  assumes  the  shape  of  a  diary,  and  from  the  position  of  the  author — near 
the  general  colrimanding — may  be  regarded,  with  all  its  statements,  as  of  the 
most  authentic  character." — St.  Louis  Republican,  Sept.  24,  1846,  and  Washing' 
ton  «  Union,"  Oct.  2,  1846. 


MEXICAN  ARMY.  45 

would  be  respected.  That  he  would  soon  be  in  Santa  Fe,  and  that 
he  hoped  to  meet  Gov.  Arrnijo  and  shake  hands  with  him  as  a 
friend ;  but  if  that  were  denied  him,  he  had  a  force  sufficient  to 
put  down  all  opposition,  and  that  he  would  certainly  do  it.  We 
are  encamped  at  the  Passes :  at  this  place  runs  a  small  mountain 
stream,  and  near  it,  a  village  containing  probably  one  hundred  mud- 
built  houses. 

"There  were  300  mounted  men  here  yesterday.  They  have 
all  gone  to  Santa  Fe,  no  doubt  to  join  the  main  army,  which  is 
said  to  be  12,000  strong — 2,000  well  armed,  and  four  pieces  of 
artillery,  (one  six-pounder  taken  from  the  Santa  Fe  prisoners.) 
The  other  10,000  are  said  to  be  armed  with  bows  and  arrows, 
slings,  and  other  weapons.  The  Mexican  dragoons  report  that 
Capt.  Cooke  left  Santa  Fe  with  them,  but  as  they  got  a  change  of 
horses,  they  out-rode  him.  (The  captain  had  been  sent  from  Bent's 
Fort,  by  Gen.  Kearny,  with  letters  to  Gov.  Armijo.)  He  will  be 
with  us  to-morrow.  From  white  men,  who  reside  here,  we  learn 
that  the  governor  exercises  the  most  despotic  sway  over  the  com 
mon  people,  aided  by  the  priests.  They  say  to  such  men  as  we 
have  met,  'Go  on  such  a  road,  ascertain  where  Cooke  and  his  men 
are,  and  return  to  me  at  such  a  time.'  They  furnish  no  man  for  the 
performance  of  the  duty,  and  give  no  compensation.  Yet  no  Mexi 
can  dare  to  refuse,  or  fail  to  perform  the  duty.  What  a  change 
will  be  effected  among  these  people  when  they  are  emancipated. 
If  Gen.  Kearny  succeeds  in  this  expedition  without  inflicting  any 
pain,  he  will  be  the  greatest  man  that  has  ever  been  in  New 
Mexico.  There  are  extensive  fields  of  corn  near  us,  cultivated  by 
irrigation.  After  spring  sets  in,  there  is  no  rain  here  till  in  Au 
gust,  when  they  have  refreshing  showers,  and  the  grass  begins  to 
grow  again.  The  rain  of  this  season  commenced  about  ten  days 
since,  and  grass  is  more  abundant.  But  for  this,  it  would  be  im 
possible  to  take  our  animals  to  Santa  Fe,  probably  not  beyond  this 
place.  Gen.  Kearny's  *  good  luck'  still  attends  him.  We  have 
passed,  within  the  last  two  days,  cattle  and  sheep  enough  to  sub 
sist  the  army  all  winter,  and  we  have  no  fear  of  starving. 

"  Saturday,  August  15. — Started  at  7,  A.  M.,  and  passed  through 


46  ADDRESS   OF  GEN.  KEARNY. 

the  village.  The  colonel  was  overtaken  at  this  place  by  Major 
Swords,  from  Fort  Leavenworth,  who  brought  him  a  commission 
as  brigadier-general. 

"After  having  passed  through  the  village, the  troops  halted  near 
it,  while  the  general  addressed  the  alcalde  and  people  from  the  top 
of  one  of  the  houses.     He  told  them  *  that  he  came  by  order  of 
the  government  of  the  United  States  to  take  possession  of  New 
Mexico,  and  to  extend  the  laws  of  the  United  States  over  them 
That  he  had  an  ample  force  with  him,  and  that  another  army  woul 
soon  join  them.     That,  in  future,  they  were  absolved  from  all  alle 
giance  to  the  Mexican  government  and  Governor  Armijo,  and  mus 
hold  allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  to  him  as  their  governor 
That,  for  this  allegiance,  they  would  be  protected  by  the  Unitec 
States  government  from  the  Indians,  (who  are  dreadful  scourges  t< 
them,)  and  from  all  their  enemies.     That  he  came  to  protect  the 
poor  man  as  well  as  the  rich  man.     That,  if  they  remained  peace 
ably  at  home,  they  would  be  considered  good  citizens  ;  but,  if  founc 
fighting  against  him,  they  would  be  considered  traitors,  and  treated 
accordingly.' 

"He  continued  the  alcalde  in  his  office,  and  told  him  to  be  go 
verned  by  the  laws  of  Mexico  for  the  present. 

"  He  stated  to  them  that  he  had  been  well  informed  *  that  some 
of  the  priests  had  endeavoured  to  make  them  believe  that  he  was 
coming  to  destroy  their  religion,  and  to  inflict  grievous  wrongs 
upon  them.'     This,  he  said,  was  false.     He  told  them  that  their 
persons,  property,  and    religion  would   not   be  interfered  with. 
'Now,'  said  he,  *  under  these  circumstances,  are  you,  Mr.  Alcalde, 
and  you,  two  captains  of  militia,  willing  to  take  the  oath  of  allegi 
ance  to  the  United  States?'     Two  of  them  readily  consented,  bu 
one  of  the  captains  evaded  the  question.     The  general  demandec 
a  categorical  answer.     The  captain  said  *  Yes,'  but  it  was  eviden 
it  was  with  a  bad  grace.     They  then  raised  their  hands  and  mad* 
the  sign  of  the  cross  with  the  thumb  and  finger,  all  present  unco 
vering  their  heads,  and  the  general  in  a  solemn  manner  adminis 
tered  the  following  oath  :  '  You  do  swear  to  hold  faithful  allegiance 
to  the  United  States,  and  to  defend  its  government  and  laws  against 


ORDER   OF  MARCH.  47 


all  its  enemies,  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,' 
or  words  to  that  effect.  The  general  then  said :  *  I  will  shake 
hands  with  them  as  good  friends.'  When  he  came  to  the  captain, 
who  did  not  seern  to  enter  fully  into  the  matter,  he  took  him  by  the 
hand,  and  told  the  interpreter,  *  Tell  the  man  to  look  me  in  the  eye.' 
The  general  gave  him  one  of  his  significant  smiles,  and  with  his 
keen  eyes  fixed  firmly  on  him,  seemed  to  say,  '  I  know  you  are  a 
rascal;'  (such  he  no  doubt  was,)  but  the  others,  I  think,  were 
honest.  He  then  told  the  people,  (about  two  hundred,)  '  I  shake 
hands  with  you  all,  through  your  alcalde,  and  hail  you  as  good 
citizens  of  the  United  States  :'  upon  which  they  raised  a  general 
shout.  At  this  town  are  extensive  fields  of  wheat  and  corn,  culti 
vated  by  irrigation,  from  a  beautiful  creek.  The  water  is  taken 
out  on  each  side  in  canals,  and  spread  over  their  fields.  It  was  a 
beautiful  sight  to  see  the  clear  mountain  water  rushing  through 
these  canals,  and  producing  luxuriant  fields  of  corn  and  wheat, 
where  rain  so  seldom  falls. 

"Our  camp  was  near  these  fields,  and  although  sentinels  were 
placed  very  near  together,  with  strict  orders  to  keep  every  animal 
out  of  them,  yet  some  did  get  in,  and  some  damage  was  done. 
The  general  told  the  'alcalde  that  he  had  used  every  precaution  to 
prevent  '  any  interference  with  their  crops,'  yet  l  they  had  sus 
tained  some  loss.'  He  told  him  to  examine  the  fields  and  ascertain 
what  the  damage  was  to  each  man,  to  send  him  a  statement  of  it  to 
Santa  Fe,  and  that  full  compensation  should  be  paid  them.  They 
seemed  delighted  with  this  exemplification  of  equal  justice — a  thing 
not  dreamed  of  in  New  Mexico,  under  the  rule  of  Armijo. 

"News  reached  the  general  last  night,  that  we  would  have  a  fight 
to-day  in  one  of  the  mountain  gorges,  and  our  movement  has  been 
in  a  strict  military  manner.  When  paasing  through  these  narrow 
defiles,  (where  an  enemy  would  be  most  formidable,)  the  word 
*  draw  sabre'  was  given,  and  we  passed  through  at  a  fast  trot. 
But  no  enemy  has  been  seen.  The  infantry  passed  over  the  moun 
tain  to  take  them  in  rear.  We  passed  through  several  other  vil 
lages,  where  the  general  assembled  the  inhabitants,  and  proceeded 
as  with  the  first.  The  two  last  appeared  happy  to  be  recognised 


48  MEXICAN    VILLAGES. 


as  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  were  seen  to  embrace  each 
other  in  token  of  their  joy  at  the  change  of  government.  At  the. 
last  one,  they  brought  forward  their  wives  to  receive  the  congratu 
lations  of  the  general,  (whose  manner  on  such  occasions  is  most- 
happy,)  and  it  was  evident  that  his  words  had  gladdened  their 
hearts,  for  they  smiled  upon  him  in  a  manner  which  woman  alone 
knows  how  to  do.  We  encamped  at  4,  P.  M.,  in  poor  grass,  having 
marched  seventeen  miles.  Capt.  Cooke  met  us  to-day,  from  Santa 
Fe,  and  says  Governor  Armijo  will  meet  us  with  an  army.  He 
had  been  kindly  treated  while  in  Santa  Fe,  and  smoked  many  a 
*segarito'  from  the  fair  lips  of  the  ladies. 

"The  villages  we  have  passed  to-day  are  built  of  sun-burnt 
bricks.  The  houses  have  flat  roofs,  covered  with  earth,  and  are 
dry  and  comfortable  from  the  absence  of  rain  or  moisture.  Each 
one  has  a  church,  and  a  graveyard,  with  high  walls  of  sun-burnt 
brick.  There  is  more  intelligence  among  them  than  I  expected 
to  find,  and  with  a  good  government  and  protection  from  the  In 
dians,  they  will  become  a  happy  people. 

"  The  Eutaws  have  recently  stolen  their  stock,  and  carried  off 
several  children.  Well  may  they  hail  this  revolution  as  a  bless 
ing.  One  of  the  alcaldes  to-day  said,  that  God  ruled  the  destinies 
of  men,  and  that  as  we  had  come  with  a  strong  army  among  them 
to  change  their  form  of  government,  it  must  be  right,  and  he  sub 
mitted  cheerfully.  Major  Swords  and  Lieut.  Gilmer  brought  us 
the  mail  to  the  19th  of  July,  and  many  a  heart  was  made  glad  by 
tidings  from  wives,  mothers,  children,  and  dearly  beloved  ones. 
There  are  plenty  of  cattle,  sheep,  and  goats  in  the  country,  and 
we  shall  fare  well  enough. 

"  Sunday,  August  16. — Started  at  the  usual  hour,  and  "at  seven 
miles,  came  to  the  village  of  St.  Miguel,  built  like  the  others,  of 
sun-burnt  brick,  and  with  flat  roofs.  After  much  delay,  the 
alcalde  and  padre  were  found,  and  presented  to  Gen.  Kearny. 
They  received  him  politely,  but  it  was  evident  they  did  not  relish 
an  interview  with  him.  This  village  contains  a  respectable  church, 
and  about  two  or  three  hundred  houses.  The  general  expressed 
a  wish  to  ascend  one  of  the  houses,  with  the  priest  and  alcalde, 


TRANSFER   OF   POWER.  49 

and  to  address  the  people  of  the  town,  informing  them  of  the 
object  of  his  mission.  After  many  evasions,  delays,  and  useless 
speeches,  the  padre  made  a  speech,  stating  that  "  he  was  a  Mexi 
can,  but  should  obey  the  laws  that  were  placed  over  him  for  the 
time,  but  if  the  general  should  point  all  his  cannon  at  his  breast, 
he  could  not  consent  to  go  up  there  and  address  the  people." 

"The  general  very  mildly  told  him,  through  the  interpreter,  Mr. 
Robideau,  that  he  had  not  come  to  injure  him,  nor  did  he  wish 
him  to  address  the  people.  He  only  wished  him  to  go  up  there, 
and  hear  him  (the  general)  address  them.  The  padre  still  fought 
shy,  and  commenced  a  long  speech,  which  the  general  interrupted, 
and  told  him  he  had  no  time  to  listen  to . '  useless  remarks,'  and 
repeated,  that  he  only  wanted  him  to  go  up  and  listen  to  his 
speech.  He  consented.  The  general  made  pretty  much  the 
same  remarks  to  the  alcalde  and  people  that  he  had  made  to  the 
people  of  the  other  villages.  He  assured  them  that  he  had  an 
ample  force,  and  would  have  possession  of  the  country  against  all 
opposition ;  but  gave  them  assurances  of  the  friendship  and  pro 
tection  of  the  United  States.  He  stated  to  them  that  this  had 
never  been  given  them  by  the  government  of  Mexico,  but  that  the 
United  States  were  able,  and  would  certainly  protect  them,  not 
only  in  their  persons,  property,  and  religion,  but  against  the  cruel 
invasion  of  the  Indians.  That  they  saw  but  a  small  part  of  the 
force  that  was  at  his  disposal.  Many  more  troops  were  near  him 
on  another  road,  (some  of  which  he  showed  them  a  mile  or  two 
distant,)  and  that  another  army  would,  probably,  be  through  their 
village  in  three  weeks.  After  this,  he  said,  'Mr.  Alcalde,  are 
you  willing  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States  ?' 
He  replied,  that  '  he  would  prefer  waiting  till  the  general  had 
taken  possession  of  the  capital.'  The  general  told  him,  '  it  was 
sufficient  for  him  to  know  that  he  had  possession  of  his  village.' 
He  then  consented,  and  with  the  usual  formalities,  he  said :  '  You 
swear,  that  you  will  bear  true  allegiance  to  the  government  of  the 
United  States  of  America.'  The  alcalde  said :  '  Provided,  I  can 
be  protected  in  my  religion.'  The  general  said:  *I  swear  you 
shall  be.'  He  then  continued,  '  and  that  you  will  defend  her 
E  4 


50  BATTLE  EXPECTED. 

against  all  her  enemies  and  opposers,  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
the  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost — Amen.' 

"The  general  then  said:  '  I  continue  you  as  the  alcalde  of  this 
village ;  and  require  you,  the  inhabitants  of  this  village,  to  obey 
him  as  such.  Your  laws  will  be  continued  for  the  present,  but  as 
soon  as  I  have  time  to  examine  them,  if  any  change  can  be  made 
that  will  be  for  your  benefit,  it  shall  be  done.'  After  shaking 
hands  with  them,  he  left.  The  padre  then  invited  him  to  his 
house,  and  gave  them  and  his  staff  refreshments ;  and  after  sun 
dry  hugs,  jokes,  and  professions  of  friendship,  with  an  expression 
from  the  general,  that  the  *  better  they  became  acquainted,  the 
better  friends  they  would  be,'  and  an  invitation  to  the  padre  to 
visit  him  at  Santa  Fe,  (which  he  promised,)  we  left  the  village. 
The  padre  was  evidently  the  ruling  spirit  of  the  village,  and  the 
alcalde  was  under  great  restraint  by  his  presence.  The  visit  to 
the  priest,  and  the  frank  and  friendly  manner  of  the  general  had 
the  desired  effect,  and  I  believe  they  parted  the  best  of  friends, 
and  have  no  doubt  that  the  inhabitants  of  St.  Miguel  will  soon  be 
as  good  democrats  as  can  be  found  in  Missouri. 

"The  alcalde  informed  the  general  that  400  men  left  the  village  to 
join  the  Mexican  army,  but  that  200  had  returned  home. 

"  Soon  after  leaving  this  village,  an  express  arrived  from  Santa  Fe, 
informing  the  general  that  a  large  force  would  oppose  his  march 
fifteen  miles  from  that  place,  in  a  deep  ravine.  It  was  headed  by 
an  individual  known  as  Salazar.  That  Gen.  Armijo  refused  to 
command  them,  and  said  he  would  defend  the  town.  The  same 
information  was  soon  after  brought  by  Puebla  Indians,  who  said 
there  was  a  large  force  of  their  people  among  the  Mexicans,  armed 
with  bows  and  arrows ;  that  their  people  had  been  forced  into  the 
service,  and  that  their  chiefs  would  not  permit  them  to  take  their 
guns. 

"  As  it  is  not  more  than  two  days'  march  to  Santa  Fe,  if  we  have 
a  fight,  it  will  probably  be  to-morrow.  Marched  seventeen  miles. 

"Monday,  August  17. — Started  at  the  usual  time.  Our  picket- 
guard  took  a  prisoner,  the  son  of  the  noted  Salazar,  well  remem 
bered  by  the  Texan  prisoners  for  his  cruelties  to  them.  He  stated 


ANCIENT   TOWN    OF  PECOS.  51 

that  the  Mexican  army  had  Jeft  the  canon  and  gone  home.  The 
general  told  him  he  would  keep  him  a  prisoner,  and  if  he  found 
that  he  had  told  him  falsely,  he  would  hang  him.  We  soon  met 
others  from  Santa  Fe,  who  congratulated  the  general  on  his  arrival 
in  the  country,  and  their  deliverance  from  the  tyrannical  rule  of 
Armijo. 

"They  further  said,  that  Armijo  had  taken  one  hundred  dragoons 
and  his  cannon,  and  gone  this  morning  towards  Chihuahua.  We 
passed,  to-day,  the  ruins  of  the  ancient  town  of  Pecos.  I  visited 
it  with  some  Mexicans,  and  an  interpreter,  who  gave  me  a  full 
account  of  it.  It  was  said  to  have  been  built  long  before  the  con 
quest.  It  stands  on  an  eminence.  The  -dwellings  were  built  of 
small  stones  and  rnud ;  some  of  the  buildings  are  still  so  far  perfect 
as  to  show  three  full  stories.  There  were  four  rooms  under  ground, 
fifteen  feet  deep,  and  twenty-five  feet  across,  in  a  circular  form. 
In  one  of  these  rooms  burned  the  *  holy  fire,'  which  was  kindled 
many  centuries  before  the  conquest ;  and  when  the  Pecos  Indians- 
were  converted  to  the  Catholic  faith,  they  still  continued  their  own 
religious  rites,  and  among  them  the  '  sacred  fire,'  which  never 
ceased  to  burn,  till  seven  years  since,  when  the  village  was  broken 
up.  The  population  is  probably  one  thousand.  The  church  is 
large,  and  although  in  ruins,  was  evidently  a  fine  building.  It  was 
built  after  the  conquest.  The  eastern  roof  of  the  main  building  is  still 
good — it  is  filled  with  birds.  As  we  came  in  front  of  it,  the  Mexi 
cans  took  off  their  hats,  and  on  entering  the  building  did  the  same. 
The  general  learned,  to-day,  that  Salazar  had  been  in  command  at 
the  canon,  and  that  he  had  passed  round  us  and  gone  to  St.  Mi 
guel,  the  town  we  passed  yesterday.  The  general  sent  him  word 
that  he  had  his  son  a  prisoner,  and  would  treat  him  well,  if  the 
father  remained  peaceable,  but  if  he  took  up  arms,  or  excited  the 
people  to  resistance,  he  would  hang  him. 

"  We  encamped  at  3,  p.  M.,  on  the  Pecos  creek,  in  excellent  grass, 
where  was  a  beautiful  farm,  well  watered — distance,  to-day,  fifteen 
and  three-quarter  miles. 

"An  abundance  of  vegetables  have  been  brought  into  camp  this 
evening,  and  we  have  fared  better  than  since  we  left  Missouri. 


52  ENTRANCE  INTO   SANTA  FE. 


Bread,  coffee,  and  bacon  are-excellent  articles  of  food,  when  accom 
panied  with  other  little  'fixings,'  which  ladies  only  can  provide 
us  with,  but  of  themselves,  after  a  few  weeks,  campaigners  be 
come  a  little  tired. 

"An.  American  gentleman  has  just  arrived  in  camp  from  Sanla 
Fe ;  he  left  at  12,  M.,  to-day,  and  says  that  after  the  governor's 
abdication,  the  alcaldes  held  a  meeting,  and  gravely  discussed  the 
propriety  of  tearing  down  the  churches  to  prevent  their  being  con 
verted  into  barracks,  and  that  the  American  citizens  interfered, 
and  assured  them  that  they  had  nothing  to  fear  on  that  subject,  and 
thereby  saved  the  churches.  A  lady  also  sent  for  him  this  morn 
ing,  and  asked  him  if  he  did  not  think  it  advisable  for  her  to  leave 
the  town,  with  her  daughters,  to  save  them  from  dishonour.  He 
advised  her  by  all  means  to  remain  at  home,  and  assured  her  that 
she  and  her  daughters  were  in  no  danger  from  the  approach  of  the 
army. 

"Most  of  the  respectable  people  of  the  town  have  left,  and  many 
country  people  are  going  to  town  for  protection. 

"  Tuesday,  August  18. — Started  as  usual,  and  at  six  miles  came 
to  the  canon,  where  the  Mexican  army  had  been  assembled.  There 
had  been  3000  troops  there,  but  it  seems  that  the  nearer  we  ap 
proached  them,  the  fewer  they  became,  and  when  we  passed 
through  they  had  all  gone.  The  position  they  chose  was  near  the 
lower  end,  and  it  was  one  of  great  strength.  The  passage  was 
not  more  than  forty  feet  wide — in  front,  they  had  made  an  obstruc 
tion  with  timber,  and  beyond  this,  at  300  yards'  distance,  was  an 
eminence  in  the  road,  on  which  their  cannon  had  been  placed  ; 
and  it  was  thought  by  us  that  their  position  was  equal  to  5000 
men.  We  reached  the  hill  which  overlooks  Santa  Fe,  at  5,  P.  M. 
Major  Clark's  artillery  was  put  into  line,  and  the  mounted  troops 
and  infantry  were  marched  through  the  town  to  the  palace,  (as  it 
is  called,)  on  the  public  square,  where  the  general  and  his  staff 
dismounted,  and  were  received  by  the  acting  governor,  and  other 
dignitaries,  and  conducted  to  a  large  room.  The  general  stated,  in 
a  few  words,  the  object  of  his  visit,  and  gave  assurances  of  safety 
and  protection  to  all  unoffending  citizens.  While  this  transpired, 


POSSESSION   OF  SANTA  FE.  53 

the  stars  and  stripes  were  hoisted  on  the  staff  which  is  attached 
to  the  palace,  by  Major  Swgrds,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  seen  to 
wave  above  the  buildings,  it  was  hailed  by  a  national  salute  from 
the  batteries  of  Capts.  Fischer  and  Weightman,  under  the  command 
of  Major  Clark.  While  the  general  was  proclaiming  the  conquest 
of  New  Mexico,  as  a  part  of  the  United  States,  the  first  gun  was 
heard.  '  There,'  said  he,  '  my  guns  proclaim  that  the  flag  of  the 
United  States  floats  over  this  capital.'  The  people  appeared  satis 
fied.  The  general  slept  in  the  palace,  (we  democrats  must  call  it 
the  governor's  house.)  One  company  of  dragoons  was  kept  in  the 
city  as  a  guard,  and  the  business  of  the  day  was  ended. 

"  Thus,  in  the  short  space  of  fifty  days,  has  an  army  been 
marched  nearly  900  miles,  over  a  desert  country,  and  conquered 
a  province  of  80,000  souls,  without  firing  a  gun — a  success  which 
may  be  attributed  mainly  to  the  skill  and  ability  with  which  Gen. 
Kearny  has  managed  this  arduous  and  delicate  business.  In  ex 
plaining  his  object  in  coming  into  the  country,  and  the  kindness 
he  felt  for  the  inhabitants,  he  was  mild  and  courteous ;  but  then, 
(would  add,)  'I  claim  the  whole  of  New  Mexico  for  the  United 
States.  I  put  my  hand  on,  it  from  this  moment,  (bringing  his 
hand  firmly  down  on  his  thigh,)  and  demand  obedience  to  its 
laws.' 

"  Wednesday,  August  19. — The  general  addressed  the  whole 
people  to-day,  more  at  length  than  he  had  on  other  occasions,  and 
took  particular  care  to  give  them  the  most  positive  assurances  of 
protection  in  their  persons,  property,  and  religion.  Many  families 
had  fled  on  his  approach,  and  he  told  their  friends  to  bring  them 
back,  and  to  say  to  them  that  they  would  be  more  safe  under  his 
administration  than  they  had  ever  been.  He  stated,  that  in  taking 
possession  of  New  Mexico,  he  claimed  the  whole  of  it  for  the 
United  States,  without  reference  to  the  Rio  Grande.  He  absolved 
them  from  their  allegiance  to  Mexico  and  Governor  Armijo,  and 
proclaimed  himself  governor  of  New  Mexico,  and  claimed  them 
as  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

"  The  acting  governor  and  alcaldes  then  took  the  oath  of  alle 
giance  to  the  United  States,  and  the  people,  with  a  simultaneous 

E2 


54  GEN.  KEARNY  AND  THE  INHABITANTS. 


shout,  exclaimed  '  Vive  h  General.''     The  acting  governor  thi 
addressed  the  people  as  follows  : —    , 

"'John  Baptist  Vigil,  alcalde,  political  and  military  governor, 
pro  tern.,  of  the  department  of  New  Mexico,  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Santa  Fe,  the  capital  thereof,  greeting :  It  having  been  out  of  my 
power,  by  all  the  exertions  that  I  could  put  in  practice,  to  calm 
the  fears  impressed  on  the  inhabitants  by  the  desertion  of  Gen. 
Don  Manuel  Armijo  and  his  soldiers,  and  what  was  most  frightful, 
he  having  made  them  conceive,  on  the  approach  of  the  military 
forces  of  the  government  of  the  United  States  of  North  America 
to  the  capital,  that  said  forces  were  composed  of  cruel  and  sanguin 
ary  savages,  and  for  which  many  families  have  left  their  homes 
to  hide  themselves  in  the  desert — believing  that  no  security,  no 
protection  of  their  lives  or  property  was  to  be  expected  from  the 
commander  of  said  forces ;  and  in  order  to  appease  these  fears,  I 
thought  it  convenient  and  necessary  to  order  to  be  set  up  in  the 
most  public  places,  the  proclamation  of  the  chief  of  said  forces,  of 
which  the  following  is  its  tenor.'  He  then  read  the  proclamation 
which  Gen.  Kearny  had  sent  among  the  Mexicans  in  advance. 

"  Thursday ',  August  20,  and  Friday  21. — The  general  sits  in 
his  room,  and  is  constantly  receiving  visits  from  the  officers  of  ex- 
Governor  Armijo  and  others,  who  fled  on  his  approach.  To  all 
who  remain  quiet  and  peaceable,  he  promises  protection.  Many 
of  them  come  into  his  presence  very  much  disquieted,  but  he  has 
the  happy  faculty  of  calming  all  their  fears,  and  he  is  winning 
laurels  among  them  daily.  Ex-Governor  Armijo  has  certainly 
fled.  The  cannon  he  took  from  the  place  have  been  retaken  by 
Capt.  Fischer,  and  will  be  here  soon.  The  gun  taken  from  the 
Texan  prisoners  was  left  in  a  mountain,  carriage  destroyed ;  the 
gun,  a  brass  six-pounder,  has  been  recovered. 

"  Saturday,  August  21. — The  general  is  still  receiving  visits 
and  attending  to  matters  and  things  which  are  referred  to  him. 
Capt.  Waldo,  of  the  volunteers,  is  translating  the  few  written  laws 
which  can  be  found. 

"  Sunday,  August  23. — The  general  and  his  staff,  and  some 
other  officers  went  to  church  to-day.  There  are  no  seats  in  the 


GOVERNOR  ARMIJO.  55 

church,  except  one  for  the  governor,  and  a  bench  on  which  his 
subs  sit.  Gen.  Kearny  occupied  the  former,  and  we  the  latter. 
The  rich  and  the  ragged  kneel  or  sit  on  the  floor,  as  best  they  can. 
When  the  priests  were  ready,  the  service  commenced  with  a  piece 
of  music,  not  unlike  what  I  have  heard  in  the  theatre,  and  pretty 
well  played.  This  continued  with  different  pieces  of  music  till 
the  ceremony  was  over.  After  which,  they  escorted  the  general 
to  his  quarters  with  music. 

"  There  is  evidently  a  large  proportion  of  very  ignorant  people 
here,  and  many  of  them  seem  to  think,  judging  from  their  deport 
ment,  that  they  have  no  rights,  and  are  bound  to  obey  their  supe 
riors.  When  our  laws  and  institutions  are  established  here,  the 
resources  of  the  country  will  be  developed,  and  these  people  will 
become  prosperous  and  happy."* 

It  subsequently  appeared,  that  Governor  Armijo  had  actually 
4000  men  at  his  command,  but  very  badly  armed ;  and  that  on 
the  16th,  they  left  for  the  place  appointed  as  the  battle-ground. 
When  he  got  there,  however,  a  council  of  his  officers  was  called, 
and  they  refused  to  fight.  Very  soon  after  this  determination, 
Gov.  Armijo  turned  his  head  towards  Chihuahua,  followed  by  a 
few  dragoons. 

In  fact,  the  star-spangled  banner  now  waved  over  the  capital  of 
New  Mexico.  American  sentinels  guarded  the  town  ;  American 
soldiers  paraded  on  the  public  plaza.  On  the  highlands  south, 
tent  upon  tent  was  to  be  seen,  their  inmates  busily  engaged  clean 
ing  their  armour,  drilling,  and  attending  to  their  various  military 
duties;  the  cannon  of  Major  Clark's  battalion  pointing  signifi 
cantly  with  their  muzzles  towards  the  town — all  denoting  that  the 
war  east  of  the  Rio  Grande  was  ended.  The  fall  of  the  capital 


*  The  «  unofficial  journal"  of  Lieut.  Emory,  chief  of  the  Engineer  staff  of 
Gen.  Kearny's  command,  distinguished  for  his  intelligence  as  an  officer  and  a 
man,  and  now  Lieutenant-colonel  of  Col.  G.  W.  Hughes's  regiment,  was  pub 
lished  in  the  «  Union"  of  22d  and  23d  of  October,  and  5th  of  November,  1846.  It 
confirms  and  gives  these  incidents,  &c.,  in  greater  detail.  The  limits  of  this 
work  preclude  the  insertion  here,  of  what  will  be  found  exceedingly  interesting 
o  those  who  desire  fuller  details  than  this  work  professes  to  give. 


56  COUNTRY  ROUND  SANTA  FE. 

was  in  effect  the  fall  of  the  country.  Here  a  scarcity  of  forage 
was  experienced,  and  portions  of  the  troops  were  necessarily 
stationed  with  almost  all  the  horses  at  villages  around — some 
of  them  many  miles  distant — for  the  purpose  of  grazing  the  ani 
mals. 

The  highly  efficient  quartermaster,  Major  T.  Swords,  of  United 
States  Dragoons,  wrote  Gen.  Jesup  :  "Should  the  additional  regi 
ment  of  Missouri  Volunteers,  under  Col.  Price,  be  stationed  in  this 
section  of  country  during  the  coming  winter,  I  see  but  little  pros 
pect  of  their  animals  getting  through  it,  as  there  will  be  no  sur 
plus  forage  in  the  country,  and  the  grazing  for  miles  around  is 
said  to  be  entirely  eaten  up.  The  country  round  here  is,  indeed, 
too  poor  to  sustain  any  living  thing  but  the  wretched  inhabitants, 
their  donkeys,  goats,  and  sheep.  Should  a  large  military  force  be 
kept  in  the  country,  it  must  be  attended  with  enormous  expense— 
the  country  furnishing  but  few  of  the  articles  necessary  for  the 
support  of  an  army." 

Lieut.  Emory,  also,  speaks  of  the  country  round  about  Santa 
Fe,  as  "  poor  and  barren,"  but  important  in  a  military  point  of 
view,  &c. 

Of  the  gallant  volunteers,  officers  and  men,  a  most  interesting 
and  original,  as  gallant  and  noble — rough  yet  generous — kind  yet 
brave — a  set  as  ever  mingled  strangers  with  a  strange  people— 
strange  manners — strange  customs — they  to  the  Mexicans,  and 
the  Mexicans  to  them — they  and  their  adventures  are  too  full  of 
pleasant  interest  to  venture  upon  here,  else  this  work  would  be 
enlarged  beyond  its  prescribed  limits. 

Colonel,  now  Brigadier-general  Kearny,  was  laboriously  occu 
pied  with  his  various  responsible  duties.  He  early  ordered  the 
erection  of  a  fort,  a  site  for  which  was  selected  within  six  hun 
dred  yards  of  the  town,  and  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  feet  above 
it.  The  Engineer  officers,  Lieuts.  Emory,. Gilmer  and  Peck,  la 
boured  assiduously  until,  under  their  superintendence,  arose  a  most 
imposing  structure,  called  Fort  Marcy.  A  tall  flag-staff,  erected 
by  the  quartermaster's  department — spire  upon  spire  towering  to 
wards  the  heavens,  and  bearing  the  American  banner,  excited  thj 


PROCLAMATION   OF  GEN.  KEARNY.  57 

wonder -of  the  natives  so  far  that  old  men  were  said  to  have 
walked  sixty  miles  to  look  upon  it. 

The  chiefs  and  head  men  of  the  Puebla  Indians  came  in  to 
give  in  their  adhesion.  These  are  represented  as  a  large  and  for 
midable  band,  yet  among  the  most  peaceful  of  New  Mexico. 

A  band  of  Navahoes  were  told  of  their  plundering  habits,  and, 
if  the  Mexicans  were  again  disturbed,  they  would  be  hung. 

Here  was  issued  the  following : — 

Proclamation  to  the  Inhabitants  of  New  Mexico,  by  Brigadier- 
general  S.  W.  Kearny,  commanding  the  troops  of  the  United 
States  in  the  same. 

As,  by  the  act  of  the  republic  of  Mexico,  a  state  of  war  exists 
between  that  government  and  the  United  States  ;  and  as  the  un 
dersigned,  at  the  head  of  his  troops,  on  the  18th  instant,  took  pos 
session  of  Santa  Fe,  the  capital  of  the  department  of  New  Mex 
ico,  he  now  announces  his  intention  to  hold  the  department,  with 
its  original  boundaries,  (on  both  sides  of  the  Del  Norte,)  as  a  part 
of  the  United  States,  and  under  the  name  of  the  Territory  of 
New  Mexico. 

The  undersigned  has  come  to  New  Mexico  with  a  strong  mili 
tary  force,  and  an  equally  strong  one  is  following  close  in  his  rear. 
He  has  more  troops  than  is  necessary  to  put  down  any  opposition 
that  can  possibly  be  brought  against  him,  and  therefore  it  would 
be  but  folly  or  madness  for  any  dissatisfied  or  discontented  persons 
to  think  of  resisting  him. 

The  undersigned  has  instructions  from  his  government  to  re 
spect  the  religious  institutions  of  New  Mexico — to  protect  the 
property  of  the  church — to  cause  the  worship  of  those  belonging 
to  it  to  be  undisturbed,  and  their  religious  rights  in  the  amplest 
manner  preserved  to  them — also  to  protect  the  persons  and  pro 
perty  of  all  quiet  and  peaceable  inhabitants  within  its  boundaries 
against  their  enemies,  the  Eutaws,  the  Navajoes,  and  others ; 
and  when  he  assures  all  that  it  will  be  his  pleasure,  as  well  as' his 
duty,  to  comply  with  those  instructions,  he  calls  upon  them  to 
exert  themselves  in  preserving  order,  in  promoting  concord,  and 


58  PROCLAMATION   OF   GEN.  KEARNY- 

in  maintaining  the  authority  and  efficacy  of  the  laws.  And  he 
requires  of  those  who  have  left  their  homes  and  taken  up  arms 
against  the  troops  of  the  United  States  to  return  forthwith  to  them, 
or  else  they  will  be  considered  as  enemies  and  traitors,  subjecting 
their  persons  to  punishment  and  their  property  to  seizure  and  con 
fiscation  for  the  benefit  of  the  public  treasury. 

It  is  the  wish  and  intention  of  the  United  States  to  provide  for 
New  Mexico  a  free  government,  with  the  least  possible  delay, 
similar  to  those  in  the  United  States ;  and  the  people  of  New 
Mexico  will  then  be  called  on  to  exercise  the  rights  of  freemen,  in 
electing  their  own  representatives  to  the  territorial  legislature. 
But  until  this  can  be  done,  the  laws  hitherto  in  existence  will  be 
continued  until  changed  or  modified  by  competent  authority  ;  and 
those  persons  holding  office  will  continue  in  the  same  for  the  pre 
sent,  provided  they  will  consider  themselves  good  citizens,  rind 
are  willing  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States. 

The  United  States  hereby  absolve  all  persons  residing  within 
the  boundaries  of  New  Mexico  from  any  further  allegiance  to  the 
republic  of  Mexico,  and  hereby  claim  them  as  citizens  of  the 
United  States.  Those  who  remain  quiet  and  peaceable  will  be 
considered  good  citizens,  and  receive  protection — those  who  are 
found  in  arms,  or  instigating  others  against  the  United  States,  will 
be  considered  as  traitors,  and  treated  accordingly. 

Don  Manuel  Armijo,  the  late  governor  of  this  department,  has 
fled  from  it :  the  undersigned  has  taken  possession  of  it  without 
firing  a  gun,  or  spilling  a  single  drop  of  blood,  in  which  he  most 
truly  rejoices,  and,  for  the  present,  will  be  considered  as  governor 
of  the  territory. 

Given  at  Santa  Fe,  the  capital  of  the  territory  of  New  Mexico, 
this  22d  day  of  August,  1846,  and  in  the  71st  year  of  the  Inde 
pendence  of  the  United  States.  S.  W.  KEARNY, 

Brigadier-general  U.  S.  Army. 

By  the  Governor,  JUAN  BAUTISTA  VIGIL  Y  ALAND. 

And  oh  the  day  after,  the  following  letter  was  addressed  to 
Gen.  Roger  Jones  : 


GEN.  KEARNY'S  REPORT.  59 

HEAD-QUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  THE  WEST, 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  August  24,  1846. 

SIR  : — I  have  to  report,  that  on  the  18th  instant,  the  army  under 
my  command  marched  into  this  city,  the  capital  of  New  Mexico, 
having  met  with  no  armed  resistance  ;  the  Mexican  troops,  num 
bering  about  4000, -which  had  been  collected  on  the  road  under 
Governor  Armijo  to  oppose  us,  having  dispersed  on  our  approach 
ing  them,  and  the  governor  himself  having  fled  with  a  troop  of  his 
dragoons,  towards  Chihuahua.  On  the  22d,  I  issued  a  proclama 
tion,  claiming  the  whole  of  New  Mexico,  with  its  then  bounda 
ries,  as  a  territory  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  taking  it 
under  our  protection.  I  send,  herewith,  copies  of  all  official 
papers  on  the  subject.  The  people  of  the  territory  are  now  per 
fectly  tranquil,  and  can  easily  be  kept  so.  The  intelligent  portion 
know  the  advantages  they  are  to  derive  from  the  change  of  go 
vernment,  and  express  their  satisfaction  at  it. 

In  a  few  days,  I  shall  march  down  the  Del  Norte,  and  visit 
some  of  the  principal  cities  below,  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  the 
people  and  explaining  to  them  personally  our  intentions  relating 
to  the  territory.  On  my  return  (which  will  be  in  two  or  three 
weeks)  a  civil  government  shall  be  organized,  and  the  officers  ap 
pointed  for  it ;  after  which,  I  will  be  ready  to  start  for  Upper 
California,  which  I  hope  may  be  by  the  latter  end  of  next  month  ; 
and  in  such  case,  I  shall  expect  to  have  possession  of  that  depart 
ment  by  the  close  of  November. 

I  have  not  heard  from  or  of  Colonel  Price  and  his  command, 
which  he  was  to  raise  and  bring  here,  and  have  received  but 
vague  rumours  of  Captain  Allen  and  the  Mormons.  I  suppose, 
however,  they  will  all  be  here  in  a  few  weeks.  Captain  Allen's 
command  will  accompany  me  to  the  Pacific,  and  the  number  of 
efficient  men  he  brings  will  determine  the  additional  number  I 
must  take  from  here.  After  deciding  upon  that,  and  upon  the 
number  which  will  be  necessary  to  hold  this  territory,  I- shall  send 
the  surplus  to  Chihuahua,  to  report  to  Brigadier-general  Wool.  I 
enclose  a  copy  of  my  communication  to  him  of  the  22d  instant. 
.  On  the  15th  instant,  I  received  yours  of  2d  and  3d  July,  the 


60  ORDERS   AND  INSTRUCTIONS. 


former  enclosing  a  copy  of  a  letter  to  Captain  Tompkins,  Third 
Artillery,  from  the  general-in-chief — the  latter  enclosing  for  me  a 
commission  of  brigadier-general,  which  I  hereby  accept  of,  and 
for  which  I  offer  to  the  President  and  Senate  my  acknowledgment 
and  thanks  for  the  honour  they  have  conferred  on  me. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  W.  KEARNY, 

Brigadier-general  R.  JONES,  Brigadier-general. 

Adjutant- general  U.  S.  A.  Washington. 

In  a  word,  the  expedition  of  Gen.  Kearny  with  the  "  Army  of 
the  West"  had — without  firing  a  gun,  or  spilling  a  drop  of  blood, 
and  after  a  march  of  873  miles  in  forty-nine  days, — resulted,  thus 
far,  in  the  most  successful  triumph  which  even  the  most  sanguine 
could  have  imagined. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  is  necessary  to  state,  that  the  "  orders  or 
instructions"  relating  to  the  "occupation  of  Mexican  territory," 
together  with  the  substance,  intent,  and  meaning,  &c.,  of  the  pro 
clamations,  laws,  &c.,  promulgated  by  military  and  naval  com 
manders,  in  New  Mexico  and  in  California,  became  a  subject  of 
discussion  in  the  Congress  of  1846-7. 

In  answer  to  a  call  from  the  House  of  Representatives,  of  De 
cember  15, 1846,  to  communicate  all  "  orders  or  instructions"  to  any 
military,  naval,  or  other  officers  of  the  government,  "  in  relation  to 
the  establishment  or  organization  of  civil  government  in  any  por 
tion  of  the  territory  of  Mexico  which  has  or  might  be  taken  pos 
session  of  by  the  army  or  navy  of  the  United  States,"  the  Presi 
dent,  on  the  22d  of  that  month,  replied : 

"  These  orders  and  instructions  were  given  to  regulate  the  exer 
cise  of  the  rights  of  a  belligerent,  engaged  in  actual  war,  over  such 
portions  of  the  territory  of  our  enemy  as,  by  military  conquest, 
might  be  'taken  possession  of  and  be  occupied  by  our  armed 
forces — rights  necessarily  resulting  from  a  state  of  war,  and  clearly 
recognised  by  the  laws  of  nations.  This  was  all  the  authority 
which  could  be  delegated  to  our  military  and  naval  commanders, 
and  its  exercise  was  indispensable  to  the  secure  occupation  and 


INSTRUCTIONS.  61 

possession  of  territory  of  the  enemy  which  might  be  conquered. 
The  regulations  authorized  were  temporary,  and  dependent  on  the 
rights  acquired  by  conquest.  They  were  authorized  as  belligerent 
rights,  and  were  to  be  carried  into  effect  by  military  or  naval  offi 
cers.  They  were  but  the  amelioration  of  martial  law,  which 
modern  civilization  requires,  and  were  due  as  well  to  the  security 
of  the  conquest,  as  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  conquered  territory. 

"  Among  the  documents  accompanying  the  report  of  the  Secre 
tary  of  War,  will  be  found  (see  Ex.  Doc.  No.  19,  House  of  Reps. 
2d  sess.  29th  Cong.,  from  which  these  extracts  are  made)  a  'form 
of  government,'  'established  and  organized'  by  the  military  com 
mander  who  conquered  and  occupied,  with  his  forces,  the  territory 
of  New  Mexico.  This  document  was  received  at  the  War  De 
partment  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  month,  and  as  will  be  per 
ceived  by  the  report  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  was  not,  for  the  rea 
sons  stated  by  that  officer,  brought  to  my  notice  until  after  my 
annual  message  of  the  8th  instant  was  communicated  to  Congress. 

"  It  is  declared  on  its  face  to  be  a  *  temporary  government  of  the 
said  territory;'  but  there  are  portions  of  it  which  purport  to  'es 
tablish  and  organize'  a  permanent  territorial  government  of  the 
United  States  over  the  territory,  and  to  impart  to  its  inhabitants 
political  rights  which,  under  the  Constitution 'of  the  United  States, 
can  be  enjoyed  permanently  only  by  citizens  of  the  United  States. 
These  have  not  been  'approved  and  recognised'  by  me.  Such 
organized  regulations  as  have  been  established  in  any  of  the  con 
quered  territories  for  the  security  of  our  conquest,  for  the  preser 
vation  of  order,  for  the  protection  of  the  rights  of  the  inhabitants, 
.and  for  depriving  the  enemy  of  the  advantages  of  these  territories 
while  the  military  possession  of  them  by  the  forces  of  the  United 
States  continue,  will  be  recognised  and  approved. 

"  It  will  be  apparent,  from  the  reports  of  the  officers  who  have 
been  required  by  the  success  which  has  crowned  their  arms  to  ex 
ercise  the  powers  of  temporary  government  over  the  conquered 
territories,  that  if  any  excess  of  power  has  been  exercised,  the 
departure  has  been  the  offspring  of  a  patriotic  desire  to  give  to  the 
inhabitants  the  privileges  and  immunities  so  cherished  by  the  peo- 

F 


62       REPORT  OF  THE  SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 

pie  of  our  own  country,  and  which  they  believed  calculated  to 
improve  their  condition  and  promote  their  prosperity.  Any  such 
excess  has  resulted  in  no  practical  injury, but  can  and  will  be  early 
corrected,  in  a  manner  to  alienate  as  little  as  possible  the  good  feel 
ings  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  conquered  territory." 

Accompanying  the  reply  of  the  President,  was  the  report  of  the 
Secretary  of  War,  above  alluded  to,  which  is  here  given  entire : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  December  21,  1846. 

SIR:  In  compliance  with  your  request  to  be  furnished  with  all 
the  information  in  the  War  Department  in  regard  to  the  objects  of 
inquiry  embraced  in  the  resolution  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
of  the  15th  instant,  I  have  the  honour  to  report  that  the  accompany 
ing  papers,  numbered  from  1  to  24,  contain  all  the  orders  and 
instructions  which  have  issued  from  this  department  to  any  officer 
of  the  army  "  in  relation  to  the  establishment  or  organization  of 
civil  government  in  any  portion  of  the  territory  of  Mexico,  which 
has  been  or  might  be  taken  possession  of  by  the  army  or  navy  of 
the  United  States."  They  also  furnish  all  the  information  in  this 
department  in  relation  to  any  form  of  government  which  any  such 
officer  has  established  or  organized,  and  also  in  relation  to  any  ap 
proval  or  recognition  of  such  government. 

As  the  information  called  for  by  the  resolution  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  is  .contained  in  various  despatches  "which  relate 
principally  to  military  operations,  I  have  preferred,  in  most  in 
stances,  to  give  the  whole  document,  though  parts  of  it  have  little 
or  no  direct  relation  to  the  matters  embraced  in  that  resolution. 
What  is  omitted  does  not  relate  to  any  branch  of  the  inquiry,  but 
chiefly  to  the  plans  of  the  campaign,  and  contemplated  military 
movements,  which  it  would  not  be  proper  to  make  public. 

You  will  perceive  that  I  stated,  in  my  letter  of  the  3d  of  June 
last,  to  Gen.  Kearny,  that  a  proclamation  in  the  Spanish  language 
would  be  furnished  to  him  for  the  purpose  of  being  distributed 
among  the  Mexican  people.  A  few  copies  of  the  proclamation 
prepared  for  Gen.  Taylor  were  sent  to  Gen.  Kearny  ;  but,  owing 
to  the  different  circumstances  in  which  the  two  generals  might  be 


REPORT  OF  THE  SECRETARY  OF  WAR.       63 

placed,  it  was  afterwards  deemed  proper  to  instruct  Gen.  Kearny 
not  to  use  them,  and  I  am  not  aware  that  he  did  so  in  any  instance. 
My  letter  to  him  on  this  subject,  dated  the  6th  of  June,  is  one  of 
the  papers  herewith  transmitted. 

Among  the  accompanying  documents  you  will  find  two  procla 
mations  issued  by  Gen.  Kearny,  but  neither  the  form  nor  substance 
of  them  was  furnished  from  this  department. 

In  relation  to  the  annexed  paper,  No.  24,  called  the  "  Organic 
Law  of  the  Territory  of  New  Mexico,"  it  is  proper  that  I  should 
state  that  it  was  received  at  the  Adjutant-general's  office  on  the  23d 
of  November,  and  thence  sent  to  me.  As  the  document  was 
voluminous,  and  my  whole  time  was  required  for  the  indispensable 
current  business  of  the  department,  then  unusually  pressing,  and  for 
preparing  my  annual  report  to  accompany  your  message  to  Con 
gress,  I  did  not,  at  that  time,  nor  until  a  few  days  since,  examine 
it;  and  it  was  not  laid  before  you  to  receive  your  directions  in 
regard  to  it. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  L.  MARCY. 

To  the  PRESIDENT. 

Of  the  "accompanying  papers,"  it  is  believed  that  all  of  import 
ance  to  our  subject  are  either  given  herein  the  narrative,  or  in 
the  Appendix,  with  the  exception  of  the  "Organic  Law  of  the  Ter 
ritory  of  New  Mexico,"  which  is  too  voluminous  for  our  publica? 
tion.  And  it  may  be  proper  to  add,  that  the  executive  action  above 
detailed,  applies  to  any  "  organization  of  civil  government,"  if  such 
there  be,  that  may  come  to  be  spoken  of  in  this  work. 

On  the  27th,  Gen.  Kearny  issued  an  order  regulating  licenses 
for  stores,  &c.,  duties  on  wagons,  &c. ;  and,  on  the  29th,  the  "use 
of  stamped  paper,  previously  required  by  Mexican  law,  was  abo 
lished. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  he  writes  the  Adjutant-general  of  the 
United  States :  "  I  am  now  endeavouring  to  raise  from  the  inhabit 
ants  of  the  territory  a  company  of  infantry  (volunteers  for  one 


64  GOVERNMENT   OF  NEW  MEXICO. 

year).    I  have  appointed  a  Mexican  the  captain,  and  an  American 
the  first  lieutenant  of  it.     I  think  much  good  will  result  from  it." 

About  this  time  rumours  reached  Santa  Fe  that  Armijo,  with  Col. 
Ugarte,  was  rallying  the  south,  and  advancing  on  the  capital.  To 
quiet  the  minds  of  the  people,  Gen.  Kearny,  on  the  2d  Sep 
tember,  marched  out  of  Santa  Fe  with  700  men,  principally  of 
Col.  Doniphan's  regiment  and  Major  Clark's  artillery.  Their 
route  lay  for  some  100  miles  down  the  Rio  Grande,  as  far  as  the 
village  of  Tome,  but  they  were  met  by  friendly  rather  than  hostile 
demonstrations. 

On  his  return,  a  fortnight  from  the  last  date,  arrangements  were 
made  for  the  civil  government,  and  on  the  22d  Gen.  Kearny 
writes  as  follows : 

HEAD-QUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  THE  WEST, 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  Sept.  22,  1846. 

SIR:  I  inclose  herewith  a  copy  of  the  laws  prepared  for  the 
government  of  the  territory  of  New  Mexico,  and  a  list  of  appoint 
ments  to  civil  offices  in  the  territory — both  of  which  I  have  this 
day  signed  and  published. 

I  take  great  pleasure  in  stating  that  I  am  entirely  indebted 
for  these  laws  to  Col.  A.  W.  Doniphan,  of  the  1st  regiment  of 
Missouri  mounted  volunteers,  who  received  much  assistance  from 
private  Willard  P.  Hall,  of  his  regiment. 

These  laws  are  taken,  part  from  the  laws  of  Mexico — retained 
as  in  the  original — a  part  with  such  modifications  as  our  laws  and 
constitution  made  necessary :  a  part  are  from  the  laws  of  the 
Missouri  Territory :  a  part  from  the  laws  of  Texas,  and  also  of 
Texas  and  Coahuila ;  a  part  from  the  statutes  of  Missouri ;  and 
the  remainder  from  the  Livingston  code. 

The  organic  law  is  taken  from  the  organic  law  of  Missouri  Terri 
tory.  (See  act  of  Congress,  June  4th,  1842.) 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  W.  KEARNY, 
brigadier-general^  U.  S.  A, 
The  ADJUTANT-GENERAL,  U.  S.  A.,  Washington. 

[[Received  at  the  War  Department,  November  23d.] 


CIVIL    OFFICERS.  65 

Appointment,  by  Gen.  Kearny,  of  civil  officers. 

Being  duly  authorized  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  I  hereby  make  the  following  appointments  for  the  go 
vernment  of  New  Mexico,  a  territory  of  the  United  States.  The 
officers  thus  appointed  will  be  obeyed  and  respected  accordingly. 

Charles  Bent  to  be  governor. 

Donaisano  Vigil,  to  be  secretary  of  the  territory. 

Richard  Dallam,  to  be  marshal. 

Francis  P.  Blair,  to  be  United  States  district  attorney. 

Charles  Blumner,  to  be  treasurer. 

Eugene  Leitzendorfer,  to  be  auditor  of  .public  accounts. 

Joab  Houghton,  Antonio  Jose  Otero,  Charles  Beaubian,  to  be 
judges  of  the  superior  court. 

Given  at  Santa  Fe,  the  capital  of  the  Territory  of  New  Mexico, 
this  22d  day  of  September,  1846,  and  in  the  71st  year  of  the 
Independence  of  the  United  States. 

S.  W.  KEARNY, 
Brigadier-general,  U.  S.  A. 

On  the  16th  of  September,  Gen.  Kearny  had  written  to  the 
department,  through  the  Adjutant-general: 

"As  this  territory  is  now  perfectly  quiet,  I  have  determined 
(knowing  the  wishes  of  the  Executive)  to  lea*ve  here  for  Upper 
California  as  soon  as  possible,  and  have  fixed  upon  the  25th  as  the 
day  of  departure.  As  I  am  ignorant  when  to  expect  Capt. 
Allen  and  his  command,  I  have  determined  upon  taking  with  me 
Major  Sumner  and  the  efficient  men  (about  300)  of  the  First  Dra 
goons.  Orders  will  be  left  for  Capt.  Allen  to  follow  on  our  trail. 
From  the  most  reliable  information  yet  received  as  to  the  best 
route,  we  have  determined  upon  marching  about  200  miles  down 
the  Del  Norte ;  then  to  the  Gila;  down  that  river  near  to  its 
mouth ;  leaving  which  we  cross  the  Colorado ;  and  then,  keeping 
near  the  Pacific,  up  to  Monterey.  This  route  will  carry  us  not 
far  from  and  along  the  southern  boundary  of  New  Mexico  and 
Upper  California ;  and  we  hope  to  reach  the  Pacific  by  the  end 
of  November  .  No  exertions  will  be  wanting  on  the  part  of  any 

F2  5 


66  DISTRIBUTION   OF  GEN.  KEARNY'S  FORCE. 

one  attached  to  this  expedition  in  insuring  to  it  full  and  entire 
success. 

"I  have  now  respectfully  to  ask,  that,  in  the  event  of  our  getting 
possession  of  Upper  California-— of  establishing  a  civil  government 
there — securing  peace,  quiet,  and  order  among  the  inhabitants, 
and  precluding  the  possibility  of  the  Mexicans  again  having  con 
trol  there,  I  may  be  permitted  to  leave  there  next  summer  with 
the  First  Dragoons,  and  march  them  back  to  Fort  Leavemvorth,  on 
the  Missouri ;  and  I  would  respectfully  suggest  that  troops,  to 
remain  in  California  and  Oregon,  should  be  raised  expressly  for 
the  purpose — say  for  three  years — to  be  discharged  at  the  expira 
tion  of  that  time  ;  each  man,  from  the  colonel  to  the  private,  receiv 
ing  a  number  of  acres  of  land  in  proportion  to  his  rank.  Regi 
ments  could  easily  be  raised  on  such  terms  ;  and  when  discharged, 
military  colonies  would  thus  be  established  by  them." 

Information  came  of  the  approach  of  the  Mormons  and  of  the 
regiment  from  Missouri,  under  Col.  Price,  and,  assuming  their 
arrival  as  now  certain,  Gen.  Kearny  made  the  following  distri 
bution  of  the  forces  under  his  command,  in  preparation  for  his  long 
and  arduous  march  to  California. 

The  squadrons  of  First  United  States  Dragoons,  numbering  about 
three  hundred,  with  two  howitzers,  under  Major  Sumner,  were 
ordered  to  prepare  for  the  march  on  California,  to  be  followed  by 
Capt.  Hudson's  company  and  the  Mormon  battalion,  enlisted 
under  a  promise  of  being  discharged  in  California.  Major  Clark's 
battalion  of  artillery,  embracing  Captains  Fischer  and  Weight- 
man's  companies,  from  St.  Louis,  to  remain  at  Santa  Fe,  with  the 
battalion  of  infantry  under  Captains  Angney  and  Murphy.  The 
regiment  of  Col.  Doniphan  to  be  stationed  about  forty  miles 
south  of  Albuquerque,  with  two  of  its  companies  at  Tome.  Upon 
the  arrival  of  Col.  Price's  regiment,  the  last-mentioned  companies 
to  be  relieved  by  two  companies  from  that  regiment,  and  Col. 
Doniphan  to  march  to  Chihuahua  and  report  to  Gen.  Wool. 
Col.  Price  to  station  the  main  body  of  his  regiment  at  Taos,  and 
two  companies  thereof  on  the  frontier,  to  hold  the  Indians  in 
constant  dread. 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  LEAVING  SANTA  FE.  67 


The  various  tribes  of  savages  of  New  Mexico  had  been  met  in 
council,  and  with  the  Navahoes  and  Pueblo  Indians  treaties  were 
formed. 

Lieutenants  Peck  and  Abert,  of  the  topographical  corps,  having 
suffered  much  from  sickness,  and  still  too  weak  to  accompany  the 
California  expedition,  were  ordered  to  remain,  and  make  surveys 
of  the  country,  which  they  are  understood  to  have  done  with  great 
ability,  and  to  published  results  of  which  the  public  may  look  with 
interest.  On  the  25th  September,  1846,  all  arrangements  com 
pleted,  Gen.  Kearny  departed  on  his  difficult  and  dreary  journey 
of  over  1000  miles,  a  great  portion  of  which  was  a  desert. 


68  COMBINATION    OF   FORCES. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Combination  of  forces  employed  in  the  Conquest  of  California  and  New  Mexico, 
Military  and  Naval — Reinforcement  of  a  Regiment  and  of  a  Battalion  of 
Mounted  Volunteers,  under  Col.  Price,  to  "  Army  of  the  West" — Mormon 
Battalion — Nauvoo  difficulties  and  emigrants — New  York  Regiment  under 
Col.  J.  D.  Stevenson — Capt.  C.  Q.  Tompkin's  Company  of  Third  Artillery — 
Orders  and  instructions — Co-operation  with  the  Naval  forces — Col.  Mason — 
Departures  and  Arrivals — Unexpected  Co-operation. 

THE  combination  of  forces  employed  in  the  conquest  of  Cali 
fornia  and  New  Mexico  were  of  various  organization,  both  military 
and  naval,  and  were  launched  forth,  by  sea  and  by  land,  at  different 
periods.  The  points  of  their  distinct  embodiment  were  almost  as 
many  thousand  miles  apart  as  were  their  destined  points  of  con 
centration  on  the  soil  of  Mexico.  It  will  therefore  be  impossible, 
in  the  circumscribed  limits  of  this  work,  to  follow  each  detachment 
in  their  separate  marches,  voyages  and  exploits.  Nor  do  these 
magnificent  distances,  in  connection  with  events  .so  recent,  admit 
of  the  receipt  of  that  full  information  requisite  to  ample  and  accu 
rate  detail  of  much  that  was  well  and  nobly  done. 

It  will  be  seen  Gen.  Kearny  had  been  advised  by  the  Secretary 
of  War,  that  1000  additional  volunteers  from  Missouri  would  be 
sent  as  a  reinforcement,  and  to  augment  his  disposable  force  for 
California ;  and  that  he  was  authorized  to  muster  into  service  a 
battalion  of  Mormon  emigrants,  but  that  they  had  not  joined  him 
when  he  departed  from  Santa  Fe  for  that  country. 

This  requisition  on  Missouri  for  volunteers  was  composed  of 
fourteen  companies,  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  near  1300  men 
— ten  companies  formed  a  regiment,  of  which  Sterling  Price  was 
colonel,  D.  D.  Mitchell,  lieutenant-colonel,  and  Edmonson,  ma 
jor — the  four  remaining  companies  constituted  a  battalion  under 
command  of  Col.  Willock,  all  mounted  and  armed,  either  with 
rifles,  carbines  or  muskets.  By  the  23d  August,  1846,  this  force 
had  all  taken  up  their  line  of  march  to  Santa  Fe  from  Fort  Lea- 


TROOPS  AND   EMIGRANTS.  69 


venworth.  An  immense  number  of  wagons  with  stores  and  baggage, 
with  some  nine  or  ten  thousand  mules  and  oxen,  and  teamsters,  &c. 
in  proportion,  accompanied  these  troops  on  their  long  and  arduous 
journey.  On  the  18th  July  preceding,  an  additional  requisition 
for  a  regiment  of  infantry  issued  on  the  Governor  of  Missouri,  but 
they  were  not  mustered  into  service  from  the  belief  of  the  Execu 
tive  of  the  United  States  that  they  would  not  be  needed,  and  from 
the  difficulty  of  passing  them  over  the  route  at  so  late  a  period  in 
the  season  with  the  requisite  quantity  of  supplies,  &c.  Capt.  James 
Allen  of  First  Dragoons  had  enrolled  the  500  Mormons,  and 
formed  them  into  a  battalion  of  infantry,  of  which  he  was  elected 
lieutenant-colonel.  They  had  arrived  at  a  high  state  of  discipline, 
when,  on  23d  August,  1846,  in  about  "a  fortnight  after  their  de 
parture  from  Fort  Leavenworth,  the  service  lost  a  most  efficient, 
estimable,  and  gallant  officer,  by  his  death. 

Capt.  Philip  St.  George  Cooke,  of  First  Dragoons,  was  subse 
quently  placed  in  command,  and,  under  his  orders,  the  Mormon 
battalion,  in  good  condition,  marched,  after  their  arrival  at  Santa 
Fe,  through  the  province  of  Sonora,  to  La  Plagas  and  San  Ber 
nardino — arrived  at  the  banks  of  .the  Rio  San  Pedro,  and,  following 
that  river  to  the  Gila  and  Gulf  of  California,  proceeded  thence  to 
the  capital  of  California,  where  the  American  flag  had  waved  in 
triumph  for  some  time  previous. 

It  may  be  here  appropriate  to  note,  that,  simultaneously  with 
this  array  of  armed  bands,  hosts  of  emigrants,  each  man  "good  at 
the  rifle,"  mingled  with  the  tide  of  war.  "  The  Nauvoo  difficul 
ties"  is  a  familiar,  perhaps  painful  subject.  The  peculiar  fanati 
cism  of  these  people  rendered  their  residence  within  the  States 
incompatible  with  the  habits  of  their  fellow  citizens.  They  almost 
in  a  body — men,  women  and  children — dared  the  "  Deserts  of  the 
Dead,"  the  savages,  and  the  horrors  of  a  winter  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  to  seek  a  home  in  California.  Others  of  them  sought 
its  distant  western  shore  by  water,  and,  after  a  long  and  tem 
pestuous  voyage,  arrived  at  Yerba  Buena,  in  the  Bay  of  San 
Francisco.  Most  of  these  settled  on  the  San  Joaquin,  and  imme 
diately  busied  themselves  in  putting  in  crops  to  sustain  their  emi- 


70  INSTRUCTIONS  TO   GEN.  KEARNY. 

grant  brethren  when  they  should  arrive  by  the  over-land  route— 
the  bones  of  many  of  whom  were  then  whitening  the  Sierras  and 
plains  of  that  route. 

Emigrants  from  Missouri,  under  ex-Gov.  Eoggs  of  that  state, 
arrived  in  comparative  safety,  but  the  thrilling  accounts  of  the 
sufferings  of  others  are  still  reaching  the  east,  as  well  as  west. 
The  want  of  proper  organization  and  prudent  preparation  is  said 
to  be  much  the  cause  of  this.  The  Mormon  chief  represents  the 
country  and  climate  as  not  having  disappointed  their  expectations, 
though  much  exaggerated. 

On  the  12th  September,  1846,  the  Secretary  of  War  wrote  to 
Gen.  Kearny,  that  a  volunteer  regiment  raised  in  the  State  of  New 
York — to  serve  during  the  war — to  be  discharged  wherever  they 
were  at  its  termination,  if  in  a  territory  of  the  United  States,  was 
about  to  embark  from  New  York  for  California ;  that  it  was  to 
be  a  part  of  his  command ;  but,  as  it  might  reach  its  destination 
before  Gen.  Kearny  was  in  a  condition  to  subject  it  to  his  orders, 
the  colonel,  J.  D.  Stevenson,  had  been  furnished  with  instructions 
for  his  conduct  in  the  mean  time.  A  copy  of  these,  with  the  in 
structions  of  the  Navy  Department  to  the  commander  of  the  naval 
squadron  in  the  Pacific;  a  copy  of  a  letter  to  Gen.  Taylor,  with  a 
circular  from  the  Treasury  Department ;  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Gen. 
Scott  to  Capt.  Tompkins  ;  and  a  copy  of  general  regulations  rela 
tive  to  the  respective  rank  of  naval  and  army  officers,  Gen. 
Kearny  was  informed  were  sent  him,  and  he  was  directed  to  look 
upon  these,  "so  far  as  applicable,"  "in  the  light  of  instructions" 
to  himself.* 

Gen.  Kearny  having  left  Santa  Fe  on  the  25th,  this  communica 
tion  of  the  Secretary  of  War  did  not  reach  him. 

The  copy  of  Gen.  Scott's  letter,  dated  20th  June,  1846,  to  Capt. 
Tompkins,  would  have  informed  him  of  First  Lieutenant  (after 
wards  Captain)  C.  Q,.  Tompkin's  destination  with  a  company  of 
Third  Artillery  for  California,  and  of  the  probable  nature  of  the 
service  to  which  he  was  assigned.  A  subsequent  letter,  dated  3d 
November,  1846,  from  Gen.  Scott  to  Gen.  Kearny,  tells  him  that 

*  See  Appendix,   Nos.  2,  3,  and  4,  &c. 


COL.   STEVENSON'S  REGIMENT.  71 

he  will  find  an  engineer  officer  (Lieut.  Halleck)  at  Monterey,  or 
the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  and  that  the  company  of  artillery,  aided 
by  other  troops  under  his  command,  "  ought  promptly  to  be  em 
ployed  in  erecting  and  garrisoning  durable  defences  for  holding 
the  bays  of  Monterey  and  San  Francisco,  together  with  such  other 
important  points  in  the  same  province  as  he  may  deem  necessary 
to  occupy." 

That  intrenching  tools,  ordnance  and  ordnance  stores,  went 
out  in  the  ship  Lexington,  with  Capt.  Tompkins,  and  that  further 
ordnance  supplies  might  soon  be  expected. 

Col.  Stevenson's  regiment,  (familiarly known  as  the  "California 
regiment,")  numbered  800  men,  with  the  'same  number  of  percus 
sion  muskets,  and  flint  muskets,  with  200  rifles,  and  six  pieces 
of  artillery.  They  carried  out  machinery  for  saw  and  grist 
mills,  mechanic's  tools,  &c.  &c.  A  large  number  of  them  were 
mechanics,  and  two  of  their  principal  officers  belonged  to  the 
Third  Artillery  ;  one  to  the  company  commanded  by  Capt.  Tomp 
kins.  The  letter  of  the  Secretary  of  War  to  Col.  Stevenson, 
dated  Sept.  11,  1846,  informs  him  that  his  regiment  was  destined 
to  the  Pacific,  to  co-operate  with  the  naval  commander  in  carrying 
out  his  plans,  (with  a  copy  of  whose  instructions  Col.  Stevenson 
was  furnished,)  so  far  as  the  land  forces  might  be  needed  for  that 
purpose  :  he  is  told,  "  There  are  three  points  deemed  to  be  worthy 
of  particular  attention."  These  were  San  Francisco,  Monterey, 
and  San  Diego,  and  that  it  was  "  important  to  have  possession  of 
the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  and  the  country  in  that  vicinity."  That 
"a  fortification,  such  as  the  means  at  his  command  may  enable 
him  to  construct,  will  be  erected,  and  that  the  heavy  guns  hereto 
fore  sent  out,  and  those  taken  by  the  transports,  to  the  extent 
needed,  will  be  used  for  its  armament,"  &c.  The  Secretary  of 
Wa?  adds,  "  The  regiment  under  your  command,  as  well  as  the 
company  of  Capt.  Tompkins,  which  has  preceded  it,  is  a  part  of 
Gen.  Kearny's  command  ;  but  it  may  be  that  he  will  not  be  in  a 
situation  to  reach  you  by  his  orders,  immediately  on  your  debarka 
tion.  Until  that  is  the  case,  yours  will  be  an  independent  com 
mand,  except  when  engaged  in  joint  operations  with  the  naval 


72  GEN.   SCOTT'S   LETTER. 

force  ;"  and  Col.  Stevenson  was  directed  to  show  his  instructions 
to  the  commander  of  the  squadron,  and  told,  "  Where  a  place  is 
taken  by  the  joint  action  of  the  naval  and  land  force,  the  naval 
officer,  if  superior  in  rank  to  yourself,  will  be  entitled  to  make 
arrangements  for  the  civil  government  of  it,  while  it  is  held  by 
the  co-operation  of  both  branches  of  the  military  force  ;"  and  that 
all  his  powers  would,  "  of  course,"  devolve  on  Gen.  Kearny, 
when  he  arrived,  &c.* 

Gen.  Scott's  letter  of  3d  November,  1846,  concluded  as  fol 
lows  : — 

"  As  a  guide  to  the  civil  governor  of  Upper  California,  in  our 
hands,  see  the  letter  of  June  the  3d  (last),  addressed  to  you  by  the 
Secretary  of  War.  You  will  not,  however,  formally  declare  the 
province  to  be  annexed.  Permanent  incorporation  of  the  territory 
must  depend  on  the  government  of  the  United  States. 

"After  occupying  with  our  forces  all  necessary  points  in  Upper 
California,  and  establishing  a  temporary  civil  government  therein, 
as  well  as  assuring  yourself  of  its  internal  tranquillity,  and  the 
absence  of  any  danger  of  reconquest  on  the  part  of  Mexico,  you 
may  charge  Col.  Mason,  United  States  First  Dragoons,  the  bearer 
of  this  open  letter,  or  land  officer  next  in  rank  to  your  own,  with 
your  several  duties,  and  return  yourself,  with  a  sufficient  escort 
of  troops,  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri ;  but  the  body  of  the  United  States 
Dragoons  that  accompanied  you  to  California,  will  remain  there 
until  further  orders. 

"  It  is  not  known  what  portion  of  the  Missouri  Volunteers,  if 
any,  marched  with  you  from  Santa  Fe  to  the  Pacific.  If  any,  it 
is  necessary  to  provide  for  their  return  to  their  homes  and  honour 
able  discharge  ;  and,  on  the  same  supposition,  they  may  serve  you 
as  a  sufficient  escort  to  Missouri. 

"It  is  known  that  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont,  of  the  United  States 
rifle  regiment,  was,  in  July  last,  with  a  party  of  men  in  the  ser 
vice  of  the  United  States  Topographical  Engineers,  in  the  neigh 
bourhood  of  San  Francisco  or  Monterey  bay,  engaged  in  joint 

*  See  Appendix. 


COLS.  MASON  AND  PRICE.  73 

operations  against  Mexico  with  the  United  States  squadron  on  that 
coast.  Should  you  find  him  there,  it  is  desired  that  you  do  not 
detain  him,  against  his  wishes,  a  moment  longer  than  the  necessi 
ties  of  the  service  may  require. 

"  I  need  scarcely  enjoin  deference,  and  the  utmost  cordiality,  on 
the  part  of  our  land  forces  towards  those  of  our  navy,  in  the  joint 
service  on  the  distant  coast  of  California.  Reciprocity  may  be 
cordially  expected ;  and  towards  that  end,  frequent  conferences 
between  commanders  of  the  two  arms  are  recommended.  Har 
mony  in  co-operation,  and  success  cannot  but  follow. 

"  Measures  have  been  taken  to  supply  the  disbursing  officers, 
who  have  preceded,  and  who  may  accompany  you,  with  all  neces 
sary  funds.  Of  those  measures  you  will  be  informed  by  Col. 
Mason." 

Col.  Mason  left  Washington  city  on  the  7th  of  November, 
1846,  for  New  York,  whence  he  embarked  for  Chagres,  to  cross 
the  isthmus  of  Panama,  and  thus  reached  Monterey,  on  the 
Pacific. 

Col.  Price,  with  the  Missouri  Volunteers,  and  their  heavy  trains, 
reached  Santa  Fe,  and  relieved  Col.  Doniphan,  who,  we  have  seen, 
was  awaiting  his  arrival  to  commence  the  "  Chihuahua  expedi 
tion,"  which  proved  so  glorious. 

The  company  of  the  Third  regiment  Artillery  embarked  at  New 
York  for  Monterey,  California,  July  14th,  and  the  New  York  regi 
ment  of  Volunteers,  for  the  same  destination,  embarked  the  25tht 
of  September,  1846,  and  arrived  in  due  time  as  designated : — 
"But,  (says  the  Secretary  of  War,)  before  these  forces  had  reached 
their  destination,  and  even  before  their  departure  from  the  United 
States,  the  Mexican  authority  in  the  whole  province  of  the  Cali- 
fornias  had  been  subverted." 

Of  the  "series  of  events  which  led  to  the  overthrow  of  the 
Mexican  power  in  that  extensive  country,  and  its  occupation  as  a 
conquest  of  the  United  States,"* — of  the  distinguished  actors— 
and,  especially,  of  the  unexpected  co-operation  which  "  a  party  of 

*  Secretary  of  War. 


74  COMMANDERS. 

men  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  Topographical  Engi 
neers,"  under  their  young  and  gallant  leader,  brought,  without 
"  orders"  or  "  instructions,"  in  aid  of  these  results,— of  Fremont, 
Sloat,  Stockton,  Kearny,  Doniphan,  Price,  &c.,  we  have,  in  other 
chapters,  much  to  tell — "  reflecting  the  highest  credit  alike  upon 
officers  and  soldiers,  who  participated  in  these  memorable  ac 
tions." 


COL.   DONIPHAN.  75 


CHAPTER   VI. 

Colonel  Doniphan — Missouri  Volunteers — Command  at  Santa  F£ — Orders — 
Campaign  in  the  Navaho  country — March  on  Chihuahua — Route — Battle  of 
Brazito — El  Paso — Major  Clark's  artillery — Capt.  Weightman — Battle  of 
Sacramento — Occupation  of  the  City  of  Chihuahua — American  Traders — A 
Lady — Orders  from  Gen.  Wool — Capt.  Reid's  gallant  action  with  Indians — 
Capital  of  Durango— Route  to  Saltillo — Gen.  Wool— Gen.  Taylor  and  Tro 
phies — Arrival  at  New  Orleans — Arrival  at  St.  Louis — Enthusiastic  Recep 
tion — Senator  Benton's  Speech — Colonel  Doniphan's  reply  and  adieu  to  his 
companions  in  arms. 

THE  march  of  the  Missouri  volunteers  under  Col.  A.  W.  Doni 
phan — the  citizen  commander  of  citizen  soldiers — down  the  valley 
of  the  Rio  Grande,  through  New  Mexico,  and  the  states  of  Chi 
huahua,  Durango,  New  Leon  and  Tamaulipas — passing  over  many 
a  dreary  desert  and  through  deep  snows,  penetrating  a  thickly 
settled  country  of  the  enemy  where  they  were  cut  off  from  all 
supplies  unless  drawn  from  the  theatre  of  action,  and  entirely  from  all 
reinforcements,  yet  still  fearlessly  marching  on  against  every  obstacle, 
until  they  met  the  enemy  and  overcame  him  in  two  pitched  battles, 
and  with  flying  colours  entered  Chihuahua,  his  largest  town  in  the 
north,  and  there  established  their  order  and  law — comprises  achieve 
ments  worthy  of  no  stinted  applause.  The  more,  when  this  bold 
and  fearless  band  are  found  thus,  full  two  thousand  miles  from 
their  homes — without  pay — almost  naked,  and  destitute  of  nearly 
all  the  absolute  necessaries  of  life,  resuming  their  weary  march, 
and  pressing  to  the  relief  of  their  brethren  in  arms,  who,  they 
hear,  are  nine  hundred  miles  off,  surrounded  by  the  enemy  and  in 
peril. 

To  these  displays  of  courage  and  of  fortitude  no  commendation 
can  be  applied  more  appropriate  than  through  the  eloquent  words 
addressed  to  these  Missouri  volunteers,  at  St.  Louis,  on  their  return 
to  their  homes,  by  Senator  Benton — whose  language  is  here  quoted 
entire,  as  not  only  justly  eulogizing  their  exploits,  but  as  giving  a 


76  MISSOURI  VOLUNTEERS. 

historical  summary  of  transactions,  to  which  some  few  details  are 
alone  necessary  to  be  first  added  for  our  purposes  here. 

It  will  have  been  seen  in  a  preceding  chapter,  that  Col.  Doniphan's 
regiment  had  been  mustered  into  service,  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  on 
the  6th  June,  1846 — that,  as  part  of  the  "Army  of  the  West,"  it  had 
marched  victoriously  into  Santa  Fe,  on  the  18th  of  August,  and  that, 
on  the  departure  of  Gen.  Kearny  for  California,  25th  September,  his 
orders  were,  for  Col.  Doniphan,  on  the  arrival  of  Col.  Price  at  Santa 
Fe,  to  march  his  regiment  to  Chihuahua  and  report  to  General  Wool.* 
Previous,  however,  to  General  Kearny's  departure  from  Santa  Fe, 
he  ordered  Col.  Doniphan  to  make  a  campaign  against  the  Navaho 
Indians,  which  was  accomplished  in  the  dead  of  winter,  without 
supplies,  tents,  &c.  The  district  of  country  inhabited  by  this  tribe 
lies  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  partly  on  the  Pacific  slope,  and 
was  invaded  by  several  detachments  of  troops,  headed  respectively 
by  Major  Gilpin,  Capt.  Reid,  Lieut.  Col.  Jackson,  and  Col.  Doni 
phan  in  person.  He  succeeded  in  forming  a  treaty  with  these 
troublesome  Indians,  represented  as  more  warlike  than  the  New 
Mexicans,  to  whom  they  were  a  great  source  of  dread  and  injury, 
on  the  22d  of  November,  1846. 

On  the  17th  of  December,  Col.  Doniphan,  with  his  regiment, 
and  Lieut.  Col.  D.  D.  Mitchell's  escort,  composed  of  100  picked 
men  from  the  army  at  Santa  Fe,  commenced  the  march  from  Val- 
verde  against  the  state  of  Chihuahua.  Col.  Price  was  left  at 
Santa  Fe,  in  command  of  his  own  regiment,  Lieut.  Col.  Willock's 
battalion,  Major  Clark's  artillery,  and  Capt.  Angney's  battalion  of 
infantry,  all  Missourians.  Col.  Doniphan's  whole  force  numbered 
924  men. 

Their  march  lay  along  the  Rio  Grande  to  Fra  Christobal,  and 
from  thence  they  had  proceeded  down  to  within  about  twenty-five 
miles  of  the  Paso  de  Norte,  when,  at  Brazito,  the  first  battle  of  the 
"Army  of  the  West"  occurred.  This,  however,  is  all  so  well 
told  by  Lieut.  C.  H.  Kribben,  of  the  Missouri  Light  Artillery, 
universally  represented  as  a  gallant  officer,  and  highly  intelligent 
gentleman,  that  his  letter  is  here  cheerfully  adopted,  in  the  absence 

*  See  Appendix,  No.  5. 


BATTLE   0%BRAZITO.  77 

of  any  official  account,  as  giving-  a  correct  and  accurate  narrative 
of  the  Battle  of  Brazito,  on  25th  December,  1846. 

DETACHMENT  OF  Mo.  LIGHT  ARTILLERY, 
Camp  below  Brazito,  Rio  Grande,  Dec.  26,  1846. 

DEAR  SIR  :  I  can  only  write  to  you  a  few  lines,  being  on  the 
point  of  breaking  up  camp.  One  detachment  at  Fra  Cristobal 
overtook  Col.  Doniphan's  command.  Major  Gilpin,  with  250 
men,  had  previously  left  for  El  Paso,  and  Col.  Jackson  was  fol 
lowing  him  with  200  men.  Col.  Doniphan  had  but  150  men 
with  him,  the  remainder  of  his  regiment  being  sick,  attending  on 
the  sick,  and  scattered  about  the  country.  From  Fra  Cristobal 
one  detachment  marched  with  Col.  Doniphan  south,  when,  at  the 
Laguna  of  the  Jornada  del  Muerto,  news  reached  us  through  an 
express 'sent  by  Major  Gilpin,  that  the  Mexicans  had  determined 
to  resist  at  the  El  Paso,  and  had  collected  a  considerable  number 
of  troops,  intending  to  give  us  battle.  An  express  had  been  sent 
to  Santa  Fe  for  part  of  the  artillery  under  Major  Clark,  but  no 
news  had,  as  yet,  reached  us  from  there,  so  that  the  detachment 
of  thirty  men  from  the  three  companies  of  our  corps  are  all  that 
are  here  from  the  battalion.  At  the  southern  end  of  the  Jornada, 
ten  miles  north  of  Donaha,  the  traders  had  encamped.  Contra 
dictory  rumors  of  the  enemy's  approach  reached  us  daily.  Yester 
day,  (Christmas  day,)  when  we  had  just  arrived  in  camp  here, 
with  about  five  hundred  men,  had  unsaddled  our  animals,  and  most 
of  the  men  were  engaged  in  carrying,  wood  and  water,  the  news 
was  brought  into  camp  of  the  enemy's  being  in  sight  and  advancing. 
It  was  about  2  o'clock,  p.  M.,  and  the  day  was  very  pleasant.  Our 
horses  grazing  some  distance  from  camp  at  the  time,  we  formed 
a  single  line,  and  determined  to  meet  the  enemy  as  infantry.  Their 
attack  being  evidently  designed  on  the  left  flank,  near  which  was 
our  wagon  train,  one  detachment  was  ordered  from  the  extreme 
right  to  the  left,  where  we  soon  took  up  our  position.  One  piece 
of  artillery,  500  regular  lancers  and  cavalry,  and  one  hundred 
regular  infantry,  besides  some  five  hundred  militia  troops  from  El 
Paso,  composed  the  enemy's  force,  according  to  the  best  informa- 

G   2 


78  BATTLE   OF  BRAZITO. 


tion  I  can  obtain.  The  enemy  ranged  themselves  on  the  east, 
within  half  a  mile  of  our  line,  the  mountains  in  their  rear.  In 
our  rear  was  the  river,  with  a  little  brushwood  on  its  banks. 

Previous  to  the  encounter,  a  lieutenant  from  their  ranks  came 
forward,  waving  a  black  flag  in  his  hand,  but  halted  when  within  a 
hundred  steps  of  our  line.  Thomas  Caldwell,  our  interpreter,  rode 
out  to  meet  him.  The  messenger,  with  the  black  flag  of  defiance, 
demanded  that  the  commander  should  come  into  their  camp  and 
speak  to  their  general.  The  reply  was,  "If  your  general  wants 
to  see  our  commander,  let  him  come  here."  "  We  shall  break 
your  ranks,  then,  and  take  him  there ;"  was  the  retort  of  the 
Mexican.  "Come  and  take  him,"  said  our  interpreter;  unwit 
tingly  using  the  phrase  of  the  Spartan  at  Thermopylae.  "A 
curse  on  you,  prepare  for  a  charge,"  cried  the  Mexican.  "  We 
give  no  quarter  and  ask  none,"  and,  waving  his  black  flag  gracefully 
over  his  head,  galloped  back  towards  the  enemy's  line.  Their 
charge  was  made  by  the  dragoons  from  the  right,  directed  upon 
our  left  flank,  bringing  one  detachment  into  the  closest  fire — their 
infantry,  with  one  howitzer  with  them,  at  the  same  time  attacking 
our  right  flank. 

Their  charge  was  a  handsome  one,  but  was  too  well  and  too 
coolly  met  to  break  our  line.  After  their  fire  had  been  spent, 
their  front  column  being  at  about  a  hundred  steps  from  the  front  of 
our  flank,  our  line  poured  a  volley  into  them,  which  being  a  few 
times  repeated,  created  such  a  havoc  in  their  columns,  that  their 
forces  wheeled  to  the  left,  retreating  from  our  fire,  and,  in  their 
flight,  made  an  attack  on  the  provision  train.  Here  they  met  a 
very  warm  reception,  and  were  soon  compelled  to  fly  in  all  direc 
tions,  and  in  the  utmost  confusion.  Their  infantry  had  been  put 
to  flight  even  before,  and  the  Howard  county  company,  under 
the  command  of  Lieut.  N.  Wright,  taking  advantage  of  their  posi 
tion,  on  the  route  of  the  enemy,  charged  upon  them  and  took 
their  cannon  from  them :  this  was  soon  manned  by  the  artillery 
detachment  in  Col.  Mitchell's  escort.  The  enemy  had  by  this 
time  fled,  leaving  their  arms,  provisions,  and  other  stores  on  the 
field  of  battle. 


BATTLE   OF  BRAZITO.  79 

•^N^^^N^^^^^^^^^^N^^rv^^^VV^V. ^^^s^rf^-*^^Nrf^.^w^^--^fcA^^^SA^^^ 

A  small  body  of  mounted  men  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
Reid  had  by  this  time  gathered  together  in  a  line  and  charged 
upon  the  enemy,  pursuing  them  into  the  mountains  where  they 
sought  refuge. 

The  number  of  their  dead  is  said  to  be  thirty — that  of  their 
wounded  was  slight,  as  far  as  ascertained. 

We  lost  not  a  single  man,  and  had  but  seven  slightly  wounded ; 
we  took  eight  prisoners,  six  of  whom  died  last  night.  Thus 
ended  the  battle  of  the  Brazito,  the  first  battle  of  the  army  of  the 
west,  and  as  bravely  fought  by  our  men  as  ever  men  fought  at  any 
engagement. 

We  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  there  is  more  in  store 
for  us.  C.  H.  KRIBBEN. 

One  piece  of  cannon  was  taken,  and,  opportunely,  such  store 
of  provisions,  bread  and  wine,  as  enabled  the  victors  to  spend  a 
merry  Christmas  night. 

El  Paso,  near  which  the  battle  took  place,  is  a  town  in  Chihua 
hua  of  some  3000  inhabitants,  and  is  on  the  high  road  from  New 
Mexico  to  the  city  of  Chihuahua,  distant  nearly  300  miles. 
Twelve  miles  north  of  the  town,  the  road  narrows  so  as  to  form  a 
pass,  which  a  few  determined  men  might  successfully  defend 
against  any  large  force.  But  it  appears  the  Mexicans  were  so 
dispirited  after  their  defeat,  that  they  made  no  effort  to  retain  pos 
session  of  the  pass,  but  retreated  over  100  miles  north.  The 
town  of  El  Paso  was  thus  occupied  on  the  27th  of  December, 
without  a  struggle. 

Here  Col.  Doniphan  was  reinforced  by  Major  M.  L.  Clark's 
artillery.  The  march  by  which  this  small  force  joined  the  main 
column,  is  so  entirely  characteristic  of  the  endurance  and  indo 
mitable  energy  of  this  portion  of  the  "Army  of  the  West,"  that 
a  condensed  account — less  than  the  merit  of  the  act — is  hero 
attempted  to  be  given.  An  express  reached  Major  Clark,  at  Santa 
Fe,  requesting  him  to  come,  if  possible  ;  but  at  all  events,  to  send 
Capt.  Richard  H.  Weightman,  with  the  battery,  and  thirty  or 
forty  men,  if  no  more  could  be  spared. 


80  CAPT.   WEIGHTMAN'S  MARCH. 


Major  Clark  promptly  ordered  Capt.  Weightman  to  take  sixty- 
five  men  of  his  company — being  all  that  were  able  to  endure  the 
fatigues  of  a  forced  march  of  350  miles,  in  the  dead  of  winter — 
together  with  forty-five  Lacled  Rangers  to  man  his  battery  of  six 
pieces,  and  to  proceed  forthwith  to  join  Col.  Doniphan.  Major 
Clark  and  his  staff  set  out  a  few  days  after  Capt.  Weightman  and 
his  command,  who  had  departed  on  the  10th  of  January.  Major 
Clark  overtook  the  command  near  Tome,  and,  passing  them, 
arrived  at  El  Paso  about  the  25th.  Here  he  found  that  a  night 
attack  was  expected  from  the  Mexicans,  and  sent  expresses,  with 
twenty-eight  fresh  mules,  and  orders  for  Capt.  Weightman  to  push 
on  with  all  speed,  as  it  was  believed  the  Mexicans  would  attack 
on  the  night  of  the  31st  of  January. 

Capt.  Weightman  had  started  from  San  Diego,  a  point  of  the 
Rio  Grande,  on  the  southern  extremity  of  the  Jornada  del  Muerto — 
a  desert  of  ninety-three  miles  in  extent,  when,  after  proceeding  about 
eight  miles,  he  was  met  by  the  express.  Replacing  his  most  ex 
hausted  mules  by  those  sent  him,  he  proceeded  rapidly  to  Dona 
Ana,  twenty-two  miles  from  San  Diego,  and  there  informed  his 
command  of  the  prospect  before  them,  and  of  his  intention  to  leave, 
at  that  place,  all  baggage  whatever — tents,  cooking  utensils,  &c., 
every  thing,  except  their  arms,  ammunition,  and  such  provisions 
as  each  man  could  carry  ready  cooked,  and  to  march  as  fast  as 
the  mules  would  endure,  until  they  reached  El  Paso.  By  12 
o'clock  at  night,  the  food  prepared  and  the  mules  fed,  they  pushed 
forward  with  all  speed  until,  at  one  o'clock  on  the  night  of  the 
31st,  they  reached  El  Paso,  making  the  distance  from  San  Diego, 
eighty  or  ninety  miles,  in  thirty-eight  consecutive  hours. 

This  command  was  met  four  miles  from  El  Paso  by  their  gal 
lant  and  noble-hearted  comrades,  Capt.  John  W.  Reid,  and  Lieut. 
John  Hinton,  escorting  a  wagon  load  of  supper,  and  a  barrel  of 
wine,  to  comfort  these  weary  victims  of  a  false  alarm.  So  cold 
was  the  weather  at  this  time,  that,  while  marching  by  night 
through  the  Jornada  del  Muerto,  and  on  the  nights  of  the  30th 
and  31st,  it  was  found  necessary  to  make  fires  every  four  or  five 
miles,  at  which  a  few  men  at  a  time,  and  by  turns,  warmed  them- 


BATTLE  OF  SACRAMENTO.  81 

selves,  hastening  up  afterwards  to  overtake  the  battery,  which 
constantly  moved  on.  On  this  march  from  Santa  Fe  to  El  Paso, 
the  Rio  Grande  was  forded  three  times  by  the  artillery.  On  one 
occasion,  the  river  being  frozen  over,  except  near  the  middle,  down 
which  masses  of  floating  ice  were  being  whirled,  the  guns,  cais 
sons,  &c.,  were  in  imminent  danger  from  the  ice,  but  more  from 
quicksands.  It  became  instantly  necessary  to  order  a  large  detail 
into  the  deep  and  struggling,  waters  to  extricate  the  artillery.  The 
orderlies  produced  their  books,  and  were  about  to  name  the  men 
subject  to  this  duty,  when  they  all  cried  out,  "  No— -no— we  are 
volunteers,"  and  instantly  rushed  to  the  hard  duty. 

Capt.  Weightman's  command  had  the  high  gratification  of  re 
ceiving  from  Col.  Doniphan,  Major  Clark,  and  their  comrades,  well 
merited  compliments  for  the  spirited  march  of -the  30th  and  31st. 
*  Col.  Doniphan,  thus  reinforced  by  Major  Clark's  artillery,  com 
menced  his  march  upon  the  city  of  Chihuahua,  on  the  8th  of 
February,  1847,  and,  on  the  28th  of  that  month,  fought  the  Battle 
of  Sacramento,  of  which,  and  of  the  occupation  of  Chihuahua, 
the  following  is  Col.  Doniphan's  report : — 

Battle  of  Sacramento— ^Capture  of  Chihuahua. 

HEAD-QUARTERS    OF    THE    ARMY    IN    CHIHUAHUA, 

.City  of  Chihuahua,  March  4,  1847. 

I  have  the  honour  to  report  to  you  the  movements  of  the  army 
under  my  command,  since  my  last  official  report. 

On  the  evening  of  the  8th  of  February,  1847,  we  left  the  town 
of  El  Paso  del  Norte,  escorting  the  merchant  train  or  caravan  of 
about  315  wagons  /or  the  city  of  Chihuahua.  Our  force  consisted 
of  924  effective  men ;  117  officers  and  privates  of  the  Artillery; 
93  of  Lieut.  Col.  Mitchell's  escort,  and  the  remainder  the  First 
regiment  Missouri  mounted  Volunteers.  We  progressed  in  the 
direction  of  this  place  until  the  25th,  when  we  were  informed  by 
our  spies  that  the  enemy,  to  the  number  of  1500  men,  were  at 
Inseneas,  the  country-seat  of  Gov.  Trias,  about  twenty-five  miles 
in  advance. 

When  we  arrived,  on  the  evening  of  the  26th,  near  that  point, 
we  found  that  the  force  had  retreated  in  the  direction  of  that  city. 


82  BATTLE  OF   SACRAMENTO. 

On  the  evening  of  the  27th,  we  arrived  at  Sans,  and  Jearned  from 
our  spies  that  the  enemy,  in  great  force,  had  fortified  the  pass  of 
the  Sacramento  river,  about  fifteen  miles  in  advance,  and  about  the 
same  distance  from  this  city.  We  were  also  informed  that  there 
was  no  water  between  the  point  we  were  at,  and  that  occupied  by 
the  enemy ;  we  therefore  determined  to  halt  until  morning.  At 
sunrise  on  the  28th,  the  last  day  of  February,  we  took  up  the  line  of 
march  and  formed  the  whole  train,  consisting  of  315  heavy  traders' 
wagons  and  our  commissary  and  company  wagons,  into  four  co 
lumns,  thus  shortening  our  line  so  as  to  make  it  more  easily  pro 
tected.  We  placed  the  artillery  and  all  the  command,  except  200 
cavalry  proper,  in  the  intervals  between  the  columns  of  wagons. 
We  thus  fully  concealed  our  force  and  its  position,  by  masking  our 
force  with  the  cavalry.  When  we  arrived  within  three  miles  of 
the  enemy,  we  made  a  reconnoissance  of  his  position  and  the  ar 
rangement  of  his  forces.  This  we  could  easily  do — the  road  lead 
ing  through  an  open  prairie  valley,  between  the  sterile  mountains. 
The  pass  of  the  Sacramento  is  formed  by  a  point  of  the  mountains 
on  our  right,  their  left  extending  into  the  valley  or  plain,  so  as  to 
narrow  the  valley  to  about  one  and  a  half  miles.  On  our  left  was 
a  deep  dry  sandy  channel  of  a  creek,  and  between  these  points 
the  plain  rises  to  sixty  feet  abruptly.  This  rise  is  in  the  form  of 
a  crescent,  the  convex  part  being  to  the  north  of  our  forces.  On 
the  right,  from  the  point  of  mountains,  a  narrow  part  of  the  plain  ex 
tends  north  one  and  a  half  miles  further  than  on  the  left.  The  main 
road  passes  down  the  centre  of  the  valley  and  across  the  crescent, 
near  the  left  or  dry  branch.  The  Sacramento  rises  in  the  moun 
tains  on  the  right,  and  the  road  falls  on  to  it  about  one  mile  below 
the  battle-field  or  intrenchment  of  the  enemy.  We  ascertained 
that  the  enemy  had  one  battery  of  four  guns,  two  nine  and  six- 
pounders,  on  the  point  of  the  mountain,  (their  left,)  at  a  good  ele 
vation  to  sweep  the  plain,  and  at  the  point  where  the  mountain 
extended  farthest  into  the  plain.  On  our  left  (their  right)  they 
had  another  battery,  on  an  elevation  commanding  the  road,  and 
three  intrenchments  of  two  six-pounders,  and  on  the  brow  of  the 
crescent  near  the  centre,  another  of  two  six  and  two  four  and  six 


BATTLE  OF  SACRAMENTO.  83 

culverins,  or  rampart  pieces,  mounted  on  carriages ;  and  on  the 
crest  of  the  hill  or  ascent  between  the  batteries,  and  the  right  and 
left,  they  had  twenty-seven  redoubts  dug  and  thrown  up,  extend 
ing  at  short  intervals  across  the  whole  ground.  In  these  their  in 
fantry  were  placed,  and  were  entirely  protected.  Their  cavalry 
was  drawn  up  in  front  of  the  redoubts,  four  deep,  and  in  rear  of 
the  redoubts  two  deep,  so  as  to  mask  them  as  far  as  practicable. 

When  we  had  arrived  within  1£  miles  of  the  intrenchments 
along  the  main  road,  we  advanced  the  cavalry  still  further,  and 
suddenly  diverged  with  the  columns  to  the  right,  so  as  to  gain  the 
narrow  part  of  the  ascent  on  our  right,  which  the  enemy  discover 
ing  endeavoured  to  prevent  by  moving  forward  with  1000  cavalry 
and  four  pieces  of  cannon  in  their  rear,  masked  by  them.  Our 
movements  were  so  rapid  that  we  gained  the  elevation  with  our 
forces  and  the  advance  of  our  wagons  in  time  to  form  before  they 
arrived  within  reach  of  our  guns.  The  enemy  halted,  and  we 
advanced  the  head  of  our  column  within  1200  yards  of  them,  so  as 
to  let  our  wagons  attain  the  high  lands  and  form  as  before. 

We  now  commenced  the  action  by  a  brisk  fire  from  our  bat 
tery,  and  the  enemy  unmasked  and  commenced  also ;  our  fires 
proved  effective  at  this  distance,  killing  fifteen  men,  wounding  and 
disabling  one  of  the  enemy's  guns.  We  had  two  men  slightly 
wounded,  and  several  horses  and  mules  killed.  The  enemy  then 
slowly  retreated  behind  their  works  in  some  confusion,  and  we 
resumed  our  march  in  our  former  order,  still  diverging  more  to 
the  right  to  avoid  their  battery  on  our  left,  (their  right,)  and  their 
strongest  redoubts,  which  were  on  the  left  near  where  the  road 
passes.  After  marching  as  far  as  we  safely  could,  without  coming 
within  range  of  their  heavy  battery  on  our  right,  Capt.  Weight- 
man,  of  the  artillery,  was  ordered  to  charge  with  the  two  12-pound 
howitzers,  to  be  supported  by  the  cavalry,  under  Capts.  Reid, 
Parsons,  and  Hudson.  The  howitzers  charged  at  speed,  and  were 
gallantly  sustained  by  Capt.  Reid  ;  but  by  some  misunderstanding, 
my  order  was  not  given  to  the  other  two  companies.  Capt.  Hud 
son,  anticipating  my  order,  charged  in  time  to  give  ample  support 
to  the  howitzers.  Capt.  Parsons,  at  the  same  moment,  came  to 


84  BATTLE   OF  SACRAMENTO. 


me  and  asked  permission  for  his  company  to  charge  the  redoubts 
immediately  to  the  left  of  Capt.  Weightman,  which  he  did  very 
gallantly. 

The  remainder  of  the  two  battalions  of  the  First  Regiment 
were  dismounted  during  the  cavalry  charge,  and  following  rapidly 
on  foot,  and  Maj.  Clark  advancing  as  fast  as  practicable  with  the 
remainder  of  the  battery,  we  charged  their  redoubts  from  right  to 
left,  with  a  brisk  and  deadly  fire  of  riflemen,  while  Maj.  Clark 
opened  a  rapid  and  well-directed  fire  on  a  column  of  cavalry 
attempting  to  pass  to  our  left  so  as  to  attack  the  wagons  and  our 
rear.  The  fire  was  so  well  directed  as  to  force  them  to  fall  back  ; 
and  our  riflemen,  with  their  cavalry  and  howitzers,  cleared  it  after 
an  obstinate  resistance.  Our  forces  advanced  to  the  very  brink 
of  their  redoubts,  and  attacked  them  with  their  sabres.  When  the 
redoubts  were  cleared,  and  the  batteries  in  the  centre  and  our  left 
were  silenced,  the  main  battery  on  our  right  still  continued  to  pour 
in  a  constant  and  heavy  fire,  as  it  had  done  during  the  heat  of  the 
engagement ;  but  as  the  whole  fate  of  the  battle  depended  upon 
carrying  the  redoubts  and  centre 'battery,  this  one  on  the  right  re 
mained  unattacked,  and  the  enemy  had  rallied  there  five  hundred 
strong. 

Maj.  Clark  was  directed  to  commence  a  heavy  fire  upon  it, 
while  Lieuts.  Col.  Mitchell  and  Jackson,  commanding  the  First 
Battalion,  were  ordered  to  remount  and  charge  the  battery  on  the 
left,  while  Maj.  Gilpin  was  directed  to  pass  the  Second  Battalion 
on  foot  up  the  rough  ascent  of  the  mountain  on  the  opposite  side. 
The  fire  of  our  battery  was  so  effective  as  to  completely  silence 
theirs,  and  the  rapid  advance  of  our  column  put  them  to  flight  over 
the  mountains  in  great  confusion. 

Capt.  Thompson,  of  the  First  Dragoons,  acted  as  my  aid  and 
adviser  on  the  field  during  the  whole  engagement,  and  was  of  the 
most  essential  service  to  me.  Also,  Lieut.  Wooster,  of  the  United 
States  army,  who  acted  very  coolly  and  gallantly.  Maj.  Camp 
bell,  of  Springfield,  Missouri,  also  acted  as  a  volunteer  aid  during 
part  of  the  time,  but  left  me  and  joined  Capt.  Reid  in  his  gallant 
charge.  Thus  ended  the  battle  of  Sacramento.  The  force  of  the 


BATTLE   OF  SACRAMENTO.  85 

enemy  was  1200  cavalry  from  Durango  and  Chihuahua,  300 
artillerists,  and  1420  rancheros,  badly  armed  with  lassos,  lances, 
and  machetoes,  or  corn-knives,  ten  pieces  of  artillery,  two  nine, 
two  eight,  four  six,  and  two  four-pounders,  and  six  culverins,  or 
rampart  pieces.  Their  forces  were  commanded  by  Major-general 
Heredia,  general  of  Durango,  Chihuahua,  Sonora,  and  New 
Mexico.  Brigadier-general  Justimani,  Brigadier-general  Garcia 
Conde,  formerly  minister  of  war  for  the  republic  of  Mexico,  who  is 
a  scientific  man,  planned  this  whole  field  of  defence  ;  Gen. 
Uguarte,  and  Gov.  Trias,  who  acted  as  brigadier-generals  on  the 
field,  and  colonels  and  other  officers  without  number. 

Our  force  was  924  effective  men  ;  at  least  one  hundred  of 
whom  were  engaged  in  holding  horses  and  driving  teams. 

The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  his  entire  artillery,  ten  wagons, 
masses  of  beans  and  pinola,  and  other  Mexican  provisions,  about 
three  hundred  killed,  and  about  the  same  number  wounded,  many 
of  whom  have  since  died,  and  forty  prisoners. 

The  field  was  literally  covered  with  the  dead  and  wounded 
from  our  artillery  and  the  unerring  fire  of  our  riflemen.  Night 
put  a  stop  to  the  carnage,  the  battle  having  commenced  about  three 
o'clock.  Our  loss  was  one  killed,  one  mortally  wounded,  and 
seven  so  wounded  as  to  recover  without  any  loss  of  limbs.  I  can 
not  speak  too  highly  of  the  coolness,  gallantry,  and  bravery  of  the 
officers  and  men  under  my  command. 

I  was  ably  sustained  by  the  field-officers,  Lieutenant-colonels 
Mitchell  and  Jackson,  of  the  First  Battalion,  and  Maj.  Gilpin,  of 
the  Second  Battalion  ;  and  Maj.  Clark  and  his  artillery  acted 
nobly,  and  did  the  most  effective  service  in  every  part  of  the  field. 
It  is  abundantly  shown,  in  the  charge  made  by  Capt.  Weightman 
with  the  section  of  howitzers,  that  they  can  be  used  in  any  charge 
of  calvary  with  great  effect.  Much  has  been  said,  and  justly  said, 
of  the  gallantry  of  our  artillery,  unlimbering  within  250  yards  of 
the  enemy  at  Palo  Alto ;  but  how  much  more  daring  was  the 
charge  of  Capt.  Weightman,  when  he  unlimbered  within  fifty 
yards  of  the  redoubts  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  1st  day  of  March,  we  took  formal  possession  of  the  capi- 


86  BRAVERY  OF  A  LADY. 


tal  of  Chihuahua,  in  the  name  of  our  government.  We  were 
ordered  by  Gen.  Kearny  to  report  to  Gen.  Wool  at  this  place : 
since  our  arrival  we  hear  he  is  at  Saltillo,  surrounded  by  the 
enemy.  Our  present  purpose  is  either  to  force  our  way  to  him, 
or  return  by  Bexar,  as  our  term  of  service  expires  on  the  last  of 
May  next. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  W.  DONIPHAN, 
Col.  First  Regiment  Missouri  Volunteers. 

Brigadier-general  R.  JONES,  Adjutant-general,  U.  S.  A. 

The  American  flag  was  thus  planted  on  the  walls  of  Chihua 
hua.  Here  Col.  Doniphan  remained  about  three  weeks,  resting 
his  tired  forces — made  an  excursion  to  disperse  an  assemblage  at 
Parral,  organized  as  a  kind  of  temporary  government,  &c.,  and 
stipulated  with  the  authorities  for  safety  to  the  persons  and  pro 
perty  of  the  United  States  traders,  and  threatening  to  return  with 
vengeance  if  infracted. 

Many  of  these  traders  were  gentlemen  of  wealth,  intelligence, 
and  enterprise,  and  had  large  capitals,  as  well  as  their  lives,  at 
issue  in  the  observance  of  this  treaty,  when  Col.  Doniphan  should 
have  withdrawn. 

Among  this  class  was  Mr.  Magoffin  of 'Missouri,  who  had  very 
recently  borne  a  young,  rich,  and  lovely  bride,  of  the  noblest 
blood  of  Kentucky,  to  this  mart  of  his  commerce.  Perhaps  he 
feared  to  trust  her  safety  to  the  slightest  chance  of  danger,  or  that 
he  dreaded  insult  or  inconvenience  to  her,  and,  therefore  per 
suaded  her  to  avoid  the  possibility  of  either.  She,  the  grand 
daughter  of  Shelby,  as  also  the  grand-daughter,  on  the  maternal 
side,  of  Hart,  had  it  not  in  her  nature  to  know  fear,  and  would 
not  that  her  husband  should  thus  act  against  his  interests  from  any 
anxiety  on  her  account.  Mr.  Magoffin,  however,  determined  to 
take  advantage  of  the  march  of  the  troops,  and  to  withdraw  his 
dauntless  lady  and  property  from  this  danger,  which  in  reality 
was  imminent  and  great.  Through  all  the  alarms  of  the  camp— 
the  toils  of  the  march,  and  the  privations  of  the  army,  this 


CAPT.   REID'S  FIGHT  WITH  THE  INDIANS.  87 


lady  was  found  cheerful,  and  the  charms  of  the  social  circle  of 
the  encampment  in  hours  of  ease,  and  of  danger,  brave  as  the 
bravest.  Nor  was  her  courage  untried,  for  it  happened  that  her 
carriage,  getting  off  the  line  of  march  of  the  army,  and  under  a 
small  escort  which  had  lagged  behind,  was  suddenly  ridden  up  to 
by  a  squad  of  guerillas,  whose  further  proceedings  were  instantly 
and  timely  stopped  by  the  sight  of  a  pair  of  pistols  presented  at 
them  by  a  lovely  woman,  and  by  the  shouts  of  her  escort  rapidly 
galloping  up  to  her  rescue.  Such  was  the  intrepidity  of  a  lady 
in  the  Chihuahua  column  of  the  "Army  of  the  West." 

Col.  Doniphan,  on  the  23d  of  April,  received  orders  from. 
Gen.  Wool  to  march  his  command  forthwith  to  Saltillo.  On  the 
25th,  he  directed  his  course  thither,  taking,  in  his  way,  the  towns 
of  San  Pablo,  Santa  Cruz,  Soucillo,  Santa  Rosalia,  and  Guagu- 
quilla  in  the  state  of  Chihuahua. 

"While  Col.  Doniphan's  column  was  on  its  march  from  Chi 
huahua  to  Saltillo,  a  small  advance  party,  under  Capt.  Reid,  of 
about  thirty  rank  and  file,  arrived  at  El  Paso,  (twenty-five  miles 
above  Parras,)  very  early  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  of  May. 
About  9  o'clock,  A.  M.,  a  party  of  Indians  were  seen  emerging 
from  a  gap  of  the  mountains,  distant  about  five  miles,  and  making 
direct  for  the  ranch o.  Our  troops  went  out  at  full  gallop  nearly 
half  a  mile  to  meet  them.  When  within  thirty  or  forty  steps  of  each 
other,  the  Indians  discharged  a  few  arrows,  when  the  Americans 
fired  their  entire  volley  at  them.  Immediately,  the  Indians  raised 
the  yell  and  rushed  in  on  them,  discharging  their  arrows  with  asto 
nishing  rapidity.  Our  men  were  forced  to  retreat  about  100 
yards  to  load,  when  they,  in  their-turn,  charged  the  enemy  and 
forced  him  to  retreat.  Thus  alternately  did  they  charge,  keeping 
up  the  contest  for  two  hours  with  much  spirit,  our  troops  gaining 
inch  by  inch  of  the  ground  by  dint  of  hard  fighting,  while  the 
Indians  held  it  with  much  tenacity,  and  yielding  it  only  with  their 
lives.  The  Indians  numbered  between  fifty  and  sixty,  and  their 
superior  horsemanship  gave  them  much  advantage ;  notwith 
standing  which,  they  were  forced  to  fall  back  before  the  noble 
daring  of  Capt.  Reid  and  his  little  band. 


88  RETURN  TO   ST.   LOUIS. 

"Capt.  Reid,  who  was  ably  assisted  by  Lieutenants  Gordon, 
Sproule,  and  Winston,  was  the  only  American  wounded.  He  had 
the  satisfaction  of  driving  the  Indians  entirely  off  the  ground,  car 
rying  with  them  all  their  wounded  and  some  dead,  yet  leaving 
fifteen  on  the  field.  Nine  Mexican  prisoners  were  taken  from 
them  and  restored  to  liberty,  and  about  1000  head  of  horses  and 
mules,  which,  as  far  as  practicable,  were  returned  to  the  Mexicans 
from  whom  they  had  been  taken. 

"Captain Reid  had  the  gratification  of  receiving  an  official  docu 
ment  from  the  citizens  of  Parras,  through  the  prefect  of  the  city, 
expressive  of  their  admiration  and  gratitude  for  his  noble  conduct, 
and  sympathy  for  his  wounds." 

Such  is  an  excellent  account  of  one  of  the  many  very  gallant 
achievements  of  Capt.  Reid. 

Upon  Col.  Doniphan's  approach  to  the  confines  of  Durango, 
Governor  Ochoa  prepared  to  surrender  the  capital  without  a 
struggle,  for  the  army  had  already  fled  or  dispersed  ;  but  Coi. 
Doniphan's  route  lay  further  to  the  north,  through  the  cities  of 
Mapimi,  San  Sabastian,  San  Lorenzo,  and  in  the  state  of  Coahuila, 
through  Parras,  Castannella,  the  Hacienda  de  Patos,  and  thence, 
by  Encantada,  to  Saltillo,  where  he  reported  to  Gen.  Wool,  on  the 
2'2d  of  May,  and  to  Gen.  Taylor  at  Monterey,  on  the  27th  of  May, 
and  thence  to  Matamoras,  a  distance  of  900  miles  from  Chihua 
hua,  they  marched  in  forty-five  days,  carrying  with  them  seventeen 
pieces  of  artillery,  as  trophies,  which  Gen.  Taylor  permitted  them 
to  bring  home,  in  consideration,  as  assigned  in  the  "Order,"  of 
their  gallantry  and  noble  bearing.  About  the  16th  of  June,  they 
arrived  at  New  Orleans,  thence  they  sped  their  way  to  St.  Louis, 
and  home.  There  a  most  cordial  and  hearty  welcome  greeted 
them,  on  the  2d  of  July,  1847,  after  their  twelve  months'  arduous 
expedition. 

Their  reception  was  enthusiastic  beyond  description.  The  whole 
city  turned  out  to  bid  welcome  to  the  band  who  had  achieved  so 
much  honour  for  their  state.  Flags  were  flung  to  the  breeze,  and 
the  bells  rung  a  merry  peal  of  joy.  Judge  Bowlin,  on  the  part  of 
the  citizens,  bade  them  welcome.  A  banquet  was  spread  before 


COL.  BENTON'S  ADDRESS.  89 

them,  and  Col.  Benton,  United  States  senator  from  Missouri,  ad 
dressed  the  volunteers  and  the  immense  crowd  of  citizens,  as  fol 
lows  : — 

"  COL.  DONIPHAN,  AND  OFFICERS  AND  MEN  : — I  have  been  ap 
pointed  to  an  honourable  and  a  pleasant  duty — that  of  making  you 
the  congratulations  of  your  fellow-citizens  of  St.  Louis,  on  your 
happy  return  from  your  long  and  almost  fabulous  expedition. 
You  have  indeed  marched  far,  and  done  much,  and  suffered 
much,  and  well  entitled  yourselves  to  the  applauses  of  your  fel 
low-citizens,  as  well  as  the  rewards  and  thanks  of  your  govern 
ment.  A  year  ago  you  left  home.  Going  out  from  the  western 
border  of  your  state,  you  re-enter  it  on  the  east,  having  made  a 
circuit  equal  to  a  fourth  of  a  circumference  of  the  globe,  provid 
ing  for  yourselves  as  you  went,  and  returning  with  trophies  taken 
from  fields,  the  names  of  which  were  unknown  to  yourselves  and 
your  country,  until  revealed  by  your  enterprise,  illustrated  by 
your  valour,  and  immortalized  by  your  deeds.  History  has  but 
few  such  expeditions  to  record ;  and  when  they  occur,  it  is  as 
honourable  and  useful  as  it  is  just  and  wise  to  celebrate  and  com 
memorate  the  events  which  entitle  them  to  renown. 

"  Your  march  and  exploits  have  been  among  the  most  wonderful 
of  the  age.  At  the  call  of  your  country  you  marched  a  thousand 
miles  to  the  conquest  of  New  Mexico,  as  part  of  the  force  under 
Geri.  Kearny,  and  achieved  that  conquest,  without  the  loss  of  a 
man,  or  the  fire  of  a  gun.  That  work  finished,  and  New  Mexico, 
itself  so  distant,  and  so  lately  the  Ultima  Thule — the  outside  bound 
ary  of  speculation  and  enterprise — so  lately  a  distant  point  to  be 
attained,  becomes  itself  a  point  of  departure — a  beginning  point 
for  new  and  far  more  extended  expeditions.  You  look  across  the 
long  and  lofty  chain — the  Cordilleras  of  North  America — which 
divide  the  Atlantic  from  the  Pacific  waters ;  and  you  see  beyond 
that  ridge  a  savage  tribe  which  had  been  long  in  the  habit  of  de 
predating  upon  the  province  which  had  just  become  an  American 
conquest.  You,  a  part  only  of  the  subsequent  Chihuahua  column 
under  Jackson  and  Gilpin,  inarch  upon  them — bring  them  to 
terms — and  they  sign  a  treaty  with  Col.  Doniphan,  in  which  they 

H2 


90  COL.  BENTON'S  ADDRESS. 


bind  themselves  to  cease  their  depredations  on  the  Mexicans,  and 
to  become  the  friends  of  the  United  States.  A  novel  treaty,  that ! 
signed  on  the  western  confines  of  New  Mexico,  between  parties 
who  had  hardly  ever  heard  each  other's  names  before,  and  to  give 
peace  and  protection  to  Mexicans,  who  were  hostile  to  both.  This 
was  the  meeting,  and  this  the  parting  of  the  Missouri  volunteers, 
with  the  numerous  and  savage  tribe  of  the  Navaho  Indians,  living 
on  the  waters  of  the  Gulf  of  California,  and  so  long  the  terror  and 
scourge  of  Sonora,  Sinaloa,  and  New  Mexico. 

"This  object  accomplished,  and  impatient  of  inactivity,  and  with 
out  orders,  ^Gen.  Kearny  having  departed  for  California,)  you  cast 
about  to  carve  out  some  new  work  for  yourselves-.  Chihuahua,  a 
rich  and  populous  city  of  near  30,000  souls,  the  seat  of  government 
of  the  State  of  that  name,  and  formerly  the  residence  of  the  cap 
tains-general  of  the  internal  provinces,  under  the  vice-regal  govern 
ment  of  New  Spain,  was  the  captivating  object  which  fixed  your 
attention.  It  was  a  far-distant  city — about  as  far  from  St.  Louis  as 
Moscow  is  from  Paris ;  and  towns  and  enemies,  and  a  large  river, 
and  defiles  and  mountains,  and  the  desert,  whose  ominous  name 
portending  death  to  travellers — el  Jornada  de  los  muertos — the 
journey  of  the  dead — all  lay  between  you.  It  was  a  perilous 
enterprise,  and  a  discouraging  one,  for  a  thousand  men,  badly 
equipped,  to  contemplate.  No  matter.  Danger  and  hardship  lent 
it  a  charm :  the  adventurous  march  was  resolved  on,  and  the  exe 
cution  commenced.  First,  the  ominous  desert  was  passed,  its 
character  vindicating  its  title  to  its  mournful  appellation — an  arid 
plain  of  ninety  miles,  strewed  with  the  bones  of  animals  perished 
of  hunger  and  thirst — little  hillocks  of  stone,  and  the  solitary  cross, 
erected  by  pious  hands,  marking  the  spot  where  some  Christian 
had  fallen,  victim  of  the  savage,  of  the  robber,  or  of  the  desert 
itself — no  water — no  animal  life — no  sign  of  habitation.  There 
the  Texan  prisoners,  driven  by  the  cruel  Salazar,  had  met  their 
direst  sufferings,  unrelieved,  as  in  other  parts  of  their  march  in  the 
settled  parts  of  the  country,  by  the  compassionate  ministrations  (for 
where  is  it  that  woman  is  not  compassionate?)  of  the  pitying 
women.  The  desert  was  passed,  and  the  place  for  crossing  the 


COL.  BENTON'S  ADDRESS.  91 

river  approached.  A  little  arm  of  the  river,  Bracito,  (in  Spanish,) 
made  out  from  its  side.  There  the  enemy  in  superior  numbers, 
and  confident  in  cavalry  and  artillery,  undertook  to  bar  the  way. 
Vain  pretension  !  Their  discovery,  atta-ck,  and -rout,  were  about 
simultaneous  operations.  A  few  minutes  did  the  work  !  And  in 
this  way  our  Missouri  volunteers  of  the  Chihuahua  column  spent 
their  Christmas  day  of  the  year  184G. 

"  The  victory  of  the  Bracito  opened  the  way  to  the  crossing  of 
the  river  Del  Norte,  and  to  admission  into  the  beautiful  little  town 
of  the  Paso  del  Norte,  where  a  neat  cultivation,  a  comfortable  peo 
ple,  fields,  orchards,  and  vineyards,  and  a  hospitable  reception, 
offered  the  rest  and  refreshment  which  toils,  and  dangers,  and  vic 
tory  had  won.  You  rested  there  till  artillery  was  brought  down 
from  Santa  Fe ;  but  the  pretty  town  of  the  Paso  del  Norte,  with 
all  its  enjoyments,  and  they  were  many,  and  the  greater  for  the 
place  in  which  they  were  found,  was  not  a  Capau  to  the  men  of 
Missouri.  It  did  not  detain,  and  enervate  them.  You  moved  for 
ward  in  February,  and  the  battle  of  the  Sacramento,  one  of  the 
military  marvels  of  the  age,  cleared  the  road  to  Chihuahua,  which 
was  entered  without  further  resistance.  It  had  been  entered  once 
before  by  a  detachment  of  American  troops;  but  under  circum 
stances  how  different !  In  the  year  1807,  Lieut.  Pike  and  his 
thirty  brave  men,  taken  prisoners  on  the  head  of  the  Rio  del  Norte, 
had  been  marched  captives  into  Chihuahua;  in  the  year  1847, 
Doniphan  and  his  men  entered  it  as  conquerors.  The  paltry  tri 
umph  of  a  captain-general  over  a  lieutenant,  was  effaced  in  a 
triumphal  entrance  of  a  thousand  Missourians  into  the  grand  and 
ancient  capital  of  all  the  INTERNAL  PROVINCES  !  and  old  men  still 
alive,  could  remark  the  grandeur  of  the  American  spirit  under 
both  events — the  proud  and  lofty  bearing  of  the  captive  thirty — 
the  mildness  and  moderation  of  the  conquering  thousand. 

"Chihuahua  was  taken,  and  responsible  duties, .more  delicate 
than  those  of  arms,  were  to  be  performed.  Many  American  citi 
zens  were  there,  engaged  in  trade  ;  much  American  property  was 
there.  All  this  was  to  be  protected,  both  lives  and  property,  and 
by  peaceful  arrangement ;  for  the  command  was  too  small  to  admit 


92  COL.  BENTON'S  ADDRESS. 


of  division,  and  of  leaving  a  garrison.  Conciliation  and  negotia 
tion  were  resorted  to,  and  successfully.  Every  American  interest 
was  provided  for,  and  placed  under  the  safeguard,  first,  of  good 
will,  and  next,  of  guarantees  not  to  be  violated  with  impunity. 

"  Chihuahua  gained,  it  became,  like  Santa  Fe,  not  the  termi 
nating  point  of  a  long  expedition,  but  the  beginning  point  of  a  new 
one.  Gen.  Taylor  was  somewhere — no  one  knew  exactly  where — 
but  some  seven  or  eight  hundred  miles  towards  the  other  side  of 
Mexico.  You  had  heard  that  he  had  been  defeated — that  Buena 
Vista  had  not  been  a  good  prospect  to  him.  Like  good  Americans, 
you  did  not  believe  a  word  of  it ;  but,  like  good  soldiers,  you 
thought  it  best  to  go  and  see.  A  volunteer  party  of  fourteen, 
headed  by  Collins,  of  Boonville,  undertake  to  penetrate  to  Saltillo, 
and  to  bring  you  information  of  his  condition..  They  set  out. 
Amidst  innumerable  dangers  they  accomplish  their  purpose  ;  and 
return.  You  march.  A  vanguard  of  100  men,  led  by  Lieut.  Col. 
Mitchell,  led  the  way.  Then  came  the  main  body,  (if  the  name 
is  not  a  burlesque  on  such  a  handful,]  commanded  by  Col.  Doni- 
phan  himself. 

"The  whole  table-land  of  Mexico,  in  all  its  breadth,  from  west  to 
east,  was  to  be  traversed.  A  numerous  and  hostile  population  in 
towns — treacherous  Cumanches  in  the  mountains — were  to  be 
passed.  Every  thing  was  to  be  self-provided — provisions,  trans 
portation,  fresh  horses  for  remounts,  and  even  the  means  of  vic 
tory — and  all  without  a  military  chest,  or  even  an  empty  box,  in 
which  government  gold  had  ever  reposed.  All  was  accomplished. 
Mexican  towns  were  passed,  in  order  and  quiet ;  plundering  Cu 
manches  were  punished ;  means  were  obtained  from  traders  to 
liquidate  indispensable  contributions  ;  and  the  wants  that  could  not 
be  supplied  were  endured  like  soldiers  of  veteran  service. 

"  I  say  the  Cumanches  were  punished.  And  here  presents  an 
episode  of  a  novel,  extraordinary,  and  romantic  kind — Americans 
chastising  savages  for  plundering  people  who  they  themselves  came 
to  conquer,  and  forcing  the  restitution  of  captives  and  plundered 
property.  A  strange  story  this  to  tell  in  Europe,  where  backwoods 
character,  western  character,  is  not  yet  completely  known.  But  to 


COL.  BENTON'S  ADDRESS.  93 

the  facts.  In  the  mosquit  forest  of  the  Bolson  de  Mapimi,  and  in 
the  sierras  around  the  beautiful  town  and  fertile  district  of  Parras, 
and  in  all  the  open  country  for  hundreds  of  miles  round  about,  the 
savage  Cumanches  have  held  dominion  ever  since  the  usurper 
Santa  Anna  disarmed  the  people  ;  and  sally  forth  from  their  fast 
nesses  to  slaughter  men,  plunder  cattle,  and  carry  off  women  and  chil 
dren.  An  exploit  of  this  kind  had  just  been  performed  on  the  line 
of  the  Missourians'  march,  not  far  from  Parras,  and  an  advanced 
party  chanced  to  be  in  that  town  at  the  time  the  news  of  the 
depredation  arrived  there.  It  was  only  fifteen  strong.  Moved  by 
gratitude  for  the  kind  attentions  of  the  people,  especially  the 
women,  to  the  sick  of  Gen.  Wool's  command,  necessarily  left  in 
Parras,  and  unwilling  to  be  outdone  by  enemies  in  generosity,  the 
heroic  fifteen,  upon  the  spot,  volunteered  to  go  back  thirty  miles, 
hunt  out  the  depredators  and  punish  them,  without  regard  to  num 
bers.  A  grateful  Mexican  became  their  guide.  On  their  way, 
they  fell  in  with  fifteen  more  of  their  comrades ;  and,  in  a  short 
time,  seventeen  Cumanches  killed  out  of  sixty-five,  eighteen  cap 
tives  restored  to  their  families,  and  three  hundred  and  fifty  head  of 
cattle  recovered  for  their  owners,  was  the  fruit  of  this  sudden  and 
romantic  episode. 

"  Such  noble  conduct  was  not  without  its  effect  on  the  minds  of 
the  astonished  Mexicans.  An  official  document  from  the  prefect  of 
the  place  to  Capt.  Reid,  leader  of  this  detachment,  attests  the  verity 
of  the  fact,  and  the  gratitude  of  the  Mexicans ;  and  constitutes  a 
trophy  of  a  new  kind  in  the  annals  of  war.  Here  it  is  in  the 
original  Spanish,  and  I  will  read  it  off  in  English. 

"It  is  officially  dated  from  the  Prefecture  of  the  Department  of 
Parras,  signed  by  the  prefect,  Jose  Ignacio  Arrabe,  and  addressed 
to  Capt.  Reid,  the  18th  of  May,  and  says  : 

"  'At  the  first  notice  that  the  barbarians,  after  killing  many,  and 
taking  captives,  were  returning  to  thefr  haunts,  you  generously 
and  bravely  offered,  with  fifteen  of  your  subordinates,  to  fight 
them  on  their  crossing  by  the  pass  of  the  Pozo,  executing  this 
enterprise  with  celerity,  address  and  bravery  worthy  of  all  eulogy, 
and  worthy  of  the  brilliant  issue  which  all  celebrate.  You  re- 


94  COL.  BENTON'S  ADDRESS. 

covered  many  animals  and  much  plundered  property,  and  eighteen 
captives  were  restored  to  liberty  and  to  social  enjoyments,  their 
souls  overflowing  with  a  lively  sentiment  of  joy  and  gratitude, 
which  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  equally  breathe,  in  favour 
of  their  generous  deliverers  and  their  valiant  chief.  The  half  of 
the  Indians  killed  in  the  combat,  and  those  which  fly  wounded,  do 
not  calm  the  pain  which  all  feel  for  the  wound  which  your  excel 
lency  received  defending  Christians  and  civilized  beings  against  the 
rage  and  brutality  of  savages.  All  desire  the  speedy  re-establish- 
rnent  of  your  health  ;  and  although  they  know  that  in  your  own 
noble  soul  will  be  found  the  best  reward  of  your  conduct,  they 
desire  also  to  address  you  the  expression  of  their  gratitude  and 
high  esteem.  I  am  honoured  in  being  the  organ  of  public  senti 
ment,  and  pray  you  to  accept  it,  with  the  assurance  of  my  most 
distinguished  esteem. 

"  *  God  and  Liberty  !' 

"This  is  a  trophy  of  a  new  kind  in  war,  won  by  thirty  Missou- 
rians,  and  worthy  to  be  held  up  to  the  admiration  of  Christendom. 

"The  long  march  from  Chihuahua  to  Monterey,  was  made 
more  in  the  character  of  protection  and  deliverance  than  of  con 
quest  and  invasion.  Armed  enemies  were  not  met,  and  peaceful 
people  were  not  disturbed.  You  arrived  in  the  month  of  May  in 
General  Taylor's  camp,  and  about  in  a  condition  to  vindicate,  each 
of  you  for  himself,  your  lawful  title  to  the  double  soubriquet  of 
the  general,  with  the  addition  to  it  which  the  colonel  of  the  expe 
dition  has  supplied — ragged — as  well  as  rough  and  ready.  No 
doubt  you  all  showed  title,  at  that  time,  to  that  third  soubriquet; 
but  to  see  you  now,  so  gayly  attired,  so  sprucely  equipped,  one 
might  suppose  that  you  had  never,  for  an  instant,  been  a  stranger 
to  the  virtues  of  soap  and  water,  or  the  magic  ministrations  of 
the  blanchisseuse,  and  the  elegant  transformations  of  the  fashion 
able  tailor.  Thanks,  perhaps,  to  the  difference  between  pay 
in  the  lump,  at  the  end  of  service,  and  driblets  along  in  the  course 
of  it. 

"  You  arrived  in  Gen.  Taylor's  camp  ragged  and  rough,  as  we 
can  well  conceive,  ana*  ready,  as  I  can  quickly  show.  You  re- 


COL.  BENTON'S  ADDRESS.  95 

ported  for  duty!  you  asked  for  service! — such  as  a  march  upon 
San  Luis  de  Potosi,  Zacatecas,  or  the  '  halls  of  the  Montezumas  ;' 
or  any  thing  in  that  way  that  the  general  should  have  a  mind  to. 
If  he  was  going  upon  any  excursion  of  that  kind,  all  right.  No 
matter  about  fatigues  that  were  passed,  or  expirations  of  service 
that  might  accrue :  you  came  to  go,  and 'only  asked  the  privilege. 
That  is  what  I  call  ready.  Unhappily  the  conqueror  of  Palo  Alto, 
Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena  Vista,  was  not  exactly 
in  the  condition  that  the  lieutenant-general,  that  might  have  been, 
intended  him  to  be.  He  was  not  at  the  head  of  20,000  men  !  he 
was  not  at  the  head  of  any  thousands  that  would  enable  him  to 
march  !  and  had  to  decline  the  proffered  service.  Thus  the  long 
marched  and  well-fought  volunteers :  the  rough,  the  ready,  and 
the  ragged :  had  to  turn  their  faces  towards  home,  still  more  than 
two  thousand  ^liles  distant.  But  this  being  mostly  by  water,  you 
hardly  count  it  in  the  recital  of  your  march.  But  this  is  an  unjust 
omission,  and  against  the  precedents  as  well  as  unjust.  '  The 
Ten  Thousand'  counted  the  voyage  on  the  Black  Sea  as  well  as 
the  march  from  Babylon ;  and  twenty  centuries  admit  the  validity 
of  the  count.  The  present  age,  and  posterity,  will  include  in  'the 
going  out  and  coming  in,'  of  the  Missouri  Chihuahua  Volunteers, 
the  water  voyage  as  well  as  the  land  march ;  and  then  the  ex 
pedition  of  the  One  Thousand  will  exceed  that  of  the  Ten  by  some 
two  thousand  miles. 

"The  last  nine  hundred  miles  of  your  land  march,  from  Chihua 
hua  to  Matamoras,  you  made  in  forty-five  days,  bringing  seventeen 
pieces  of  artillery,  eleven  of  which  were  taken  from  the  Sacramento 
and  the  Bracito.  Your  horses,  travelling  the  whole  distance  without 
the  United  States  provender,  were  astonished  to  find  themselves 
regaled,  on  their  arrival  on  the  Rio  Grande  frontier,  with  hay,  corn 
and  oats  from  the  States.  You  marched  further  than  the  farthest, 
fought  as  well  as  the  best,  left  order  and  quiet  in  your  train,  and 
cost  less  money  than  any. 

"  You  arrive  here  to-day,  absent  one  year,  marching  and  fighting 
all  the  time,  bringing  trophies  of  cannon  and  standards  from  fields 
whose  names  were  unknown  to  you  before  you  set  out,  and  only 


96  COL.  BENTON'S  ADDRESS. 

grieving  that  you  could  not  have  gone  further.  Ten  pieces  of 
cannon  rolled  out  of  Chihuahua  to  arrest  your  march,  now  roll 
through  the  streets  of  St.  Louis,  to  grace  your  triumphal  return. 
Many  standards,  all  pierced  with  bullets  while  waving  over  the 
heads  of  the  enemy  at  the  Sacramento,  now  wave  at  the  head 
of  your  column.  The  black  flag,  brought  to  the  Bracito,  to 
indicate  the  refusal  of  that  quarter  which  its  bearers  so  soon 
needed  and  received,  now  takes  its  place  among  your  nobler 
trophies,  and  hangs  drooping  in  their  presence.  To  crown  the 
whole,  to  make  public  and  private  happiness  go  together,  to  spare 
the  cypress  where  the  laurel  hangs  in  clusters :  this  long  and 
perilous  march,  with  all  its  accidents  of  field  and  camp,  presents 
an  incredibly  small  list  of  comrades  lost.  Almost  all  return ! 
and  the  joy  of  families  resounds  intermingled  with  the  applauses 
of  the  State. 

"I  have  said  that  you  made  your  long  expedition  without 
government  orders ;  and  so  indeed  you  did.  You  received  no 
orders  from  your  government,  but,  without  knowing  it,  you  were 
fulfilling  its  orders — orders  which  never  reached  you.  Happy  the 
soldier  who  executes  the  command  of  his  government ;  happier 
still  he  who  anticipates  command,  and  does  what  is  wanted  before 
he  is  bid.  This  is  your  case.  You  did  the  right  thing,  at  the 
right  time,  and  what  the  government  intended  you  to  do,  and  with 
out  knowing  its  intention.  The  facts  are  these  :  Early  in  the 
month  of  November  last,  the  President  asked  my  opinion  on  the 
manner  of  conducting  the  war.  I  submitted  a  plan  to  him,  which, 
in  addition  to  other  things,  required  all  the  disposable  troops  in 
New  Mexico,  and  all  the  Americans  in  that  quarter  who  could  be 
engaged  for  a  dashing  expedition,  to  move  down  through  Chihua 
hua  and  the  State  of  Durango,  and  if  necessary  to  Zacatecas,  and 
get  into  communication  with  General  Taylor's  right  as  early  as 
possible  in  the  month  of  March.  In  fact,  the  disposable  Missou- 
rians  in  New  Mexico  were  to  be  one  of  three  columns  destined  for 
a  combined  movement  on  the  city  of  Mexico,  all  to  be  on  the  table 
land,  and  ready  for  the  movement  in  the  month  of  March.  The 
President  approved  the  plan,  and  the  Missourians  being  most  dis- 


COL.  BENTON'S  ADDRESS.  97 

tarit,  orders  were  despatched  to  New  Mexico,  to  put  them  in  mo 
tion.  Mr.  Solomon  Sublette  carried  the  order,  and  delivered  it  to 
the  commanding  officer,  at  Santa  Fe,  Col.  Price,  on  the  23d  day 
of  February — just  five  days  before  you  fought  the  marvellous 
battle  of  Sacramento. 

"  I  well  remember  what  passed  between  the  President  and  my 
self,  at  the  time  he  resolved  to  give  this  order.  It  awakened  his 
solicitude  for  your  safety  It  was  to  send  a  small  body  of  men  a 
great  distance,  into  the  heart  of  a  hostile  country,  and  upon  the 
contingency  of  uniting  in  a  combined  movement,  the  means  for 
which  had  not  yet  been  obtained  from  Congress.  The  President 
made  it  a  question,  and  very  properly,  whether  it  was  safe,  or  pru 
dent,  to  start,  the  small  Missouri  column  before  the  movement  of 
the  left  and  of  the  centre  was  assured.  I  answered,  that  my  own 
rule  in  public  affairs  was  to  do  what  I  thought  was  right,  and 
leave  it  with  others  to  do  what  they  thought  was  right ;  and  that 
I  believed  it  the  proper  course  for  him  to  follow  on  the  present 
occasion.  On  this  view  he  acted.  He  gave  the  order  to  go,  with 
out  waiting  to  see  whether  Congress  would  furnish  the  means  of 
executing  the  combined  plan ;  and,  for  his  consolation,  I  under 
took  to  guaranty  your  safety.  Let  the  worst  come  to  the  worst,  I 
promised  him,  that  you.  would  take  care  of  yourselves.  Though 
the  other  parts  of  the  plan  should  fail — though  you  should -become 
far  involved  in  the  advance,  and  deeply  compromised  in  the  ene 
my's  country,  and  without  support — still  I  relied  on  your  courage, 
skill,  and  enterprise  to  extricate  yourselves  from  every  danger — 
to  make  daylight  through  all  the  Mexicans  that  should  stand  be 
fore  you — cut  your  way  out — and  make  good  your  retreat  to 
Taylor's  camp.  This  is  what  I  promised  the  President  in  No 
vember  last,  and  what  you  have  so  manfully  fulfilled.  And  here 
is  a  little  manuscript  volume,  (the  duplicate  is  in  the  hands  of  the 
President,)  from  which  I  will  read  you  a  page,  to  show  you  are 
the  happy  soldiers  who  have  done  the  will  of  the  government, 
without  knowing  its  will. 

" '  THE  RIGHT  WING. — To  be  composed  of  all  the  disposable 
troops  in  New  Mexico — to  advance  rapidly  towards  Zacatecas,  and 


98  COL.  DONIPHAN'S  REPLY. 


to  attain  a  position  about  on  a  line  with  Gen.  Taylor  in  the  month 
of  March,  and  be  ready  fora  push  on  the  capital.  This  column 
to  move  light — to  have  no  rear — to  keep  itself  mounted  from  horses 
in  the  country — and  to  join  the  centre  column,  or  cut  its  way  out 
if  the  main  object  fails.' 

"  This  is  what  was  proposed  for  you  in  the  month  of  November 
last,  and  what  I  pledged  myself  to  the  President  that  you  would 
perform ;  and  nobly  have  you  redeemed  the  pledge. 

"  But  this  was  not  the  first,  or  the  only  time  that  I  pledged  my 
self  for  you.  As  far  back  as  June,  1846,  when  a  separate  expe 
dition  to  Chihuahua  was  first  projected,  I  told  the  President  that 
it  was  unnecessary — that  the  Missouri  troops  under  Gen.  Kearny 
would  take  that  place,  in  addition  to  the  conquest  of  New  Mexico 
—and  that  he  might  order  the  column  under  Gen.  Wool  to  deflect 
to  the  left,  and  join  Gen.  Taylor  as  soon  as  he  pleased.  Again  : 
when  I  received  a  letter  from  Lieut.  Col.  Mitchell,  dated  in  No 
vember  last,  and  informing  me  that  he  was  leaving  Santa  Fe  with 
one  hundred  men,  to  open  a  communication  with  Gen.  Wool,  I 
read  that  letter  to  the  President,  and  told  him  that  they  would  do 
it.  And  again  :  when  we  heard  that  Col.  Doniphan,  with  a  thou 
sand  men,  after  curbing  the  Navahoes,  was  turning  down  towards 
the  south,  and  threatening  the  ancient  capital  of  the  captains-gene 
ral  of  the  Internal  Provinces,  I  told  him  they  would  take  it.  In 
short,  my  confidence  in  Missouri  enterprise,  courage  and  skill,  was 
boundless.  And  now  let  boundless  honour  and  joy  salute,  as  it 
does,  your  return  to  the  soil  of  your  state,  and  to  the  bosoms  of 
your  families." 

Col.  Doniphan's  reply  was  very  eloquent,  but,  as  he  himself 
said,  Col.  Benton  anticipated  much.  The  gallant  Missourian  thus 
commenced  his  address  : — 

"  FELLOW-CITIZENS, — I  return  you,  on  behalf  of  my  command, 
our  most  heartfelt  thanks  for  the  distinguished  reception  which  we 
have  this  day  received  at  your  hands.  Such  a  reception  entitles 
you  to  our  warmest  gratitude,  and  is  deeply  felt  by  those  to  whom 
it  is  extended.  The  honour  conferred  is  greatly  enhanced  by  the 
consideration  of  the  medium  through  which  it  is  presented.  No 


COL.  DONIPHAN'S  REPLY.  99 

selfish  considerations  could,  we  are  satisfied,  have  induced  the 
honourable  senator  to  have  passed  this  flattering  eulogy  upon  us. 
The  part  which  he  has  taken  here  to-day  can  add  nothing  to  his 
fame.  From  an  early  day,  his  history *has  been  identified  with 
the  history  of  the  state  of  Missouri,  and  a  feeling  of  state  pride 
has  induced  him  to  give  a  favourable  consideration  to  the  services 
rendered  by  the  volunteers  of  Missouri.  To  him,  and  yourselves, 
I  again  return  our  warmest  thanks.  The  minute  description  given 
by  the  orator  of  scenes  through  which  we  have  passed  has  excited 
our  wonder.  Indeed,  so  correct  and  minute  are  his  details,  that 
they  resemble  history,  and  I  might  almost  say  that  they  have  be 
come  a  part  of  history.  «. 

"The  few  brief  remarks  which  I  shall  make  to  you,  fellow-citi 
zens,  will  of  necessity  be  disconnected.  Man  seldom  speaks  of 
himself,  without  vanity ;  and  it  is  a  habit  which  I  do  not  often  in 
dulge.  Officers  of  the  Regular  army,  whose  lives  are  devoted  to 
their  country,  may,  by  their  prowess — by  their  long  continuance 
in  the  service — obtain  promotion.  The  ladder  of  fame  is  before 
them ;  and,  by  their  deeds  of  chivalry,  they  may  at  length  reach 
the  topmost  round.  Not  so  with  volunteers.  They  only  enlist 
for  a  limited  period,  at  the  call  of  their  country  in  her  emergency ; 
and  then  return  to  mingle  with  their  friends.  The  only  reward 
that  awaits  a  volunteer,  is  the  gratitude  and  warm  reception,  and 
honour  of  his  fellow-citizens.  If  our  services  have  merited  honour, 
then  we  have  been  more  than  repaid. 

"Upon  returning  from  our  arduous  campaign,  and  when  enter 
ing  upon  the  bosom  of  that  noble  stream  that  washes  the  borders 
of  your  city— when,  in  passing  the  magnificent  country  seats, 
bright  eyes  and  smiling  faces  greeted  us,  and  white  handkerchiefs 
were  waved  in  honour  of  the  returning  volunteers,  we  felt  that  we 
were  sufficiently  rewarded  for  all  our  toils.  When  we  arrived  at 
the  great  city  of  New  Orleans,  we  were  all  unknown.  That  city 
is  the  thoroughfare  through  which  have  passed  the  heroes  of  Palo 
Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey,  Buena  Vista,  and  Cerro  Gordo 
— indeed  the  heroes  of  all  the  brilliant  victories  achieved  in  Mexico 
— and  it  was  to  be  supposed  that  they  would  have  been  wearied 


100  COL.  DONIPHAN'S  REPLY. 

long  ago.  Yet  their  patriotism,  their  regard  for  their  country,  is 
unceasing.  There  was  not  a  volunteer  in  this  corps  who  was  not 
proffered  a  welcome  hand.  The  hospitalities  of  the  city  were  ex 
tended  to  all.  Men  who  arrived  there  in  rags,  were  clothed — the 
wealthiest  merchants,  who  had  never  seen  them,  proffered  them, 
every  thing  they  wished  for  their  comfort,  and  on  credit. 

" FELLOW-CITIZENS:  It  has  been  said  of  Republics,  which  have 
existed  heretofore,  that  they  have  been  ungrateful.  However  true 
the  charge  may  be  with  regard  to  former  republics,  it  is  not  true 
of  our  own.  Patriotism,  talent,  and  virtue,  have  ever  been  remem 
bered  in  this  government,  and  they  ever  will  be." 

More  eloquent  words  were  uttered  by  Col.  Doniphan,  and  happy 
as  glowing  were  those  addressed  to  his  comrades  in  arms ;  and 
warm  and  feeling  were  his  adieus  to  the  conquerors  of  Chihuahua. 

His  gallant  officers  then  present,  Col.  Mitchell,  Major  Clark, 
Capt.  Weightman,  Capt.  Hudson,  and  Capt.  Reid,  all  eloquently 
bade  farewell  to  men  who  must  ever  live  in  their  memories,  as 
they  deserve  to  be  proudly  remembered  by  their  countrymen  of 
this  wide  Union. 


PACIFIC   SQUADRON.  103 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Pacific  Squadron — Com.  Sloat — Any  Emergency — Distance  and  Difficulty  of 
Communication — Orders  and  Instructions — Operations  commenced — Bay  of 
Monterey  occupied — Proclamation — Bay  of  San  Francisco — Capt.  Fremont- 
Enrolment  of  Militia — British  Man  of  War — Company  of  Dragoons — Com. 
Sloat  returns  to  the  United  States — Com.  Stockton — Operations  and  De 
spatches — -Proclamation — Tariff  and  Civil  Government — Newspaper  esta 
blished — Com.  Stockton  and  Fremont — Despatch — Fremont  Governor — 
Insurrection — Los  Angeles — Santa  Barbara — Battle — Military  and  Naval 
Operations — 'Settlements  and  Towns — 'Com.  Stockton's  Despatches — Gen. 
Kearny  and  Battles  of  Los  Angeles — Fremont  and  Capitulation — Com. 
Stockton — Gen.  Kearny  and  Col.  Fremont  meet  at  Los  Angeles  and  separate 
— Com.  Shubrick  arrives — Capt.  Tompkins'  Artillery,  and  Col.  Stevenson's 
Regiment — Com.  Shubrick,  Gen.  Kearny  and  Joint-Circular — Col.  Mason,  of 
First  Dragoons,  Governor  and  Commander-in-chief  of  the  Land  Forces — 
Gen.  Kearny,  Com.  Stockton,  and  Col.  Fremont  returns — American  flag 
waves  over  California. 

OF  the  combination  of  forces  employed  in  the  conquest  of  Cali 
fornia  and  New  Mexico,  the  Pacific  Squadron  had  been  early  pre 
pared  to  perform  an  active  and  efficient  part. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  1845,  Com.  John  D.  Sloat,  commanding 
the  United  States  naval  forces  in  the  Pacific,*  was  instructed  by 
a  "secret  and  confidential"  order  of  the  Navy  Department,  "as 
soon  as  he  ascertained  with  certainty  that  Mexico  had  declared 
war  against  the  United  States,"  at  once  to  possess  himself  of  the 
port  of  San  Francisco,  and  to  blockade  or  occupy  such  ports  as  his 
force  might  permit."  In  fact,  he  was  required  "  to  exercise  all 
the  belligerent  rights  which  belonged  to  him  on  the  declaration  of 
war,  or  the  commencement  of  hostilities." 

Com.  Sloat  lost  no  time  in  preparing  to  meet  any  emergency 
that  might  arise,  having,  at  that  time,  and  on  that  distant  coast,  to 
contemplate  not  only  the  probability  as  to  Mexico,  but  the  possi 
bility  of  a  War  with  England.  At  the  commencement  of  the  year 
1846,  the  largest  American  fleet  ever  collected  in  that  quarter, 

*  Appendix,  No.  6. 


104  INSTRUCTIONS  TO  COM.  SLOAT. 


were  on  the  west  coast  of  Mexico.  The  Pacific  squadron  was 
then  composed  of  the  frigates  Savannah  of  52  guns  ;  (the  Consti 
tution  50,  and  the  Congress  52  guns  under  orders  to  join,)  the 
sloops  of  war  Portsmouth,  Levant  and  Cyane,  each  of  22  guns, 
with  the  Warren  of  24, — in  all  244  guns  and  2210  officers  and 
men.  This  gallant  force  anxiously  awaited  the  arrival  of  the 
President's  message,  to  learn  his  views  in  regard  to  our  Oregon 
and  Mexican  relations,  especially  in  reference  to  the  latter.  In 
the  confidential  instructions,  Com.  Sloat's  attention  had  been  par 
ticularly  called  to  the  then  aspect  of  the  relations  between  this 
country  and  Mexico — that  it  was  "the  earnest  desire  of  the  Pre 
sident  to  pursue  the  policy  of  peace,"  &c. — "should  Mexico, 
however,  be  resolutely  bent  on  hostilities,"  he  was  required  "to 
protect  the  persons  and  interests  of  citizens  of  the  United  States 
near  his  station ;  and  should  he  ascertain,  beyond  a  doubt,  that 
the  Mexican  government  had  declared  war"  against  the  United 
States,  he  was  "  at  once  to  employ  the  forces  under  his  command 
to  the  best  advantage."  The  then  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Mr. 
Bancroft,  added,  "  The  great  distance  of  your  squadron,  and  the 
difficulty  of  communicating  with  you,  is  the  cause  of  issuing  this 
order." 

The  line  of  conduct  prescribed  by  these  instructions  was  ob 
served  by  this  officer  "  with  such  intelligence  and  fidelity,  that  no 
complaint  has  ever  been  made  of  any  unauthorized  aggression  on 
his  part."* 

On  the  13th  of  May,  1846,  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  wrote  to 
inform  Commodore  Sloat  that  "  the  state  of  things  alluded  to  in  his 
letter  of  June  24, 1845,"  had  occurred  ;  that  he  should  be  governed 
by  the  instructions  therein  contained,  and  should  "  carry  into  effect 
the  orders  then  communicated,  with  energy  and  promptitude." 

Two  days  thereafter,  the  Secretary  again  wrote  him,  and  trans 
mitted  through  Midshipman  McRae,  sent  express,  a  file  of  papers 
containing  the  President's  message,  proceedings  of  Congress,  and 
the  President's  proclamation  of  war,  &c. 

*  Report  of  Secretary  Mason,  of  December  5, 1846. 


INSTRUCTIONS  TO    COM.  SLOAT.  105 

On  the  8th  of  June  following,  Com.  Sloat  was  told  by  the  Sec 
retary  of  the  Navy,  "it  is  rumoured  the  province  of  California  is 
well  disposed  to  accede  to  friendly  relations  with  the  United  States ;" 
that  he  should  "  encourage  the  people  of  that  region  to  enter  into 
relations  of  amity  with  our  country  ;"  and  that,  "  in  taking  posses 
sion  of  their  harbours,"  he  should  "if  possible,  endeavour  to 
establish  the  supremacy  of  the  American  flag  without  any  strife 
with  the  people  of  California,"  &c.* 

The  order,  now  given  entire,  contains  the  substance  t  of  the  two 
mentioned  above,  with  other  details  : 

UNITED  STATES  NATT  DEPARTMENT, 

Washington,  July  12,  1846. 

COMMODORE  :  Previous  instructions  have  informed  you  of  the 
intention  of  this  government,  pending  the  war  with  Mexico,  to 
take  and  hold  possession  of  California.  For  this  end  a  company 
of  artillery,  with  cannon,  mortars,  and  munitions  of  war,  is  sent  to 
you  in  the  Lexington,  for  the  purpose  of  co-operating  with  you, 
according  to  the  best  of  your  judgment,  and  of  occupying,  under 
your  direction,  such  post  or  posts  as  you  may  deem  expedient  in 
the  bay  of  Monterey,  or  in  the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  or  in  both. 
In  the  absence  of  a  military  officer  higher  than  captain,  the  selec 
tion  of  the  first  American  post  or  posts  on  the  waters  of  the  Pa 
cific,  in  California,  is  left  to  your  discretion. 

The  object  of  the  United  States  is,  under  its  rights  as  a  bellige 
rent  nation,  to  possess  itself  entirely  of  Upper  California. 

When  San  Francisco  and  Monterey  are  secured,  you  will,  if 
possible,  send  a  small  vessel  of  war  to  take  and  hold  possession  of 
the  port  of  San  Diego  ;  and  it  would  be  well  to  ascertain  the  views 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Pueblo  de  los  Angeles,  who,  according  to 
information  received  here,  may  be  counted  upon  as  desirous  of 
coming  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States.  If  you  can 
take  possession  of  it,  you  should  do  so. 

*  The  letters  from  which  quotations  are  here  made,  may  be  found  in  Ex.  Doc. 
No.  19,  of  House  of  Reps,  of  U.  S.,  3d  sess.  29th  Cong.,  which  embraces  all  the 
orders  as  yet  promulgated,  and  are  here  seriatim  noticed  or  given  in  full. 

f  Appendix,  Nos.  7,  8,  and  9. 


106  INSTRUCTIONS  TO   COM.  SLOAT. 


The  object  of  the  United  States  has  reference  to  ultimate  peace 
with  Mexico  ;  and  if,  at  that  peace,  the  basis  of  the  uti  possidetis 
shall  be  established,  the  government  expects,  through  your  forces, 
to  be  found  in  actual  possession  of  Upper  California. 

This  will  bring  with  it  the  necessity  of  a  civil  administration. 
Such  a  government  shall  be  established  under  your  protection ; 
and,  in  selecting  persons  to  hold  office,  due  respect  should  be  had 
to  the  wishes  of  the  people  of  California,  as  well  as  to  the  actual 
possessors  of  authority  in  that  province.  It  may  be  proper  to 
require  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States  from  those  who 
are  intrusted  with  authority.  You  will  also  assure  the  people  of 
California  of  the  protection  of  the  United  States. 

In  reference  to  commercial  regulations  in  the  ports  of  which  you 
are  in  actual  possession,  ships  and  produce  of  the  United  States 
should  come  and  go  free  of  duty. 

For  your  further  instruction,  I  enclose  to  you  a  copy  of  confi 
dential  instructions  from  the  War  Department  to  Brig.-Gen.  S.  W. 
Kearny,  who  is  ordered,  overland,  to  California.  You  will  also 
communicate  your  instructions  to  him,  and  inform  him  that  they 
have  the  sanction  of  the  President. 

The  government  relies  on  the  land  and  naval  forces  to  co-operate 
with  each  other  in  the  most  friendly  and  effective  manner. 

After  you  shall  have  secured  Upper  California,  if  your  force  is 
sufficient,  you  will  take  possession,  and  keep  the  harbours  on  the 
Gulf  of  California  as  far  down,  at  least,  as  Guaymas.  But  this  is 
not  to  interfere  with  the  permanent  occupation  of  Upper  California. 

A  regiment  of  volunteers  from  the  state  of  New  York,  to  serve 
during  the  war,  have  been  called  for  by  the  government,  and  are 
expected  to  sail  from  the  1st  to  the  10th  of  August.  This  regiment 
will,  in  the  first  instance,  report  to  the  naval  commander  on  your 
station,  but  will  ultimately  be  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Kearny, 
who  is  appointed  to  conduct  the  expedition  by  land. 

The  term  of  three  years  having  nearly  expired  since  you  have 
been  in  command  of  the  Pacific  squadron,  Com.  Shubrick  will  soon 
be  sent  out  in  the  Independence  to  relieve  you.  The  department 


INSTRUCTIONS  TO   COM.  BIDDLE.  107 


confidently  hopes  that  all  Upper  California  will  be  in  our  hands 
before  the  relief  shall  arrive. 

Very  respectfully, 

GEORGE  BANCROFT. 
Com.  JOHN  D.  SLOAT, 

Commanding  U.  *Sr.  Naval  Forces  in  the  Pacific  ocean. 

This  was  followed  by  the  order  of  August  13,  given  entire 
below : 

UNITED  STATES  NAVY  DEPARTMENT, 

Washington,  August  13,  1846. 

SIR  :  The  United  States  being  in  a  state  of  war  by  the  action  of 
Mexico,  it  is  desired,  by  the  prosecution  of  hostilities,  to  hasten  the 
return  of  peace,  and  to  secure  it  on  advantageous  conditions.  For 
this  purpose  orders  have  been  given  to  the  squadron  in  the  Pacific 
to  take  and  keep  possession  of  Upper  California,  especially  of  the 
ports  of  San  Francisco,  of  Monterey,  and  of  San  Diego ;  and  also, 
if  opportunity  offer,  and  the  people  favour,  to  take  possession,  by 
an  inland  expedition,  of  San  Pueblo  de  los  Angeles,  near  San 
Diego. 

Your  first  duty  will  be  to  ascertain  if  these  orders  have  been 
carried  into  effect.  If  not,  you  will  take  immediate  possession  of 
Upper  California,  especially  of  the  three  ports  of  San  Francisco, 
Monterey,  and  San  Diego,  so  that  if  the  treaty  of  peace  shall  be 
made  on  the  basis  of  the  uti  possidetis,  it  may  leave  California  to 
the  United  States. 

The  relations  to  be  maintained  with  the  people  of  Upper  Cali 
fornia  are  to  be  as  friendly  as  possible.  The  flag  of  the  United 
States  must  be  raised ;  but  under  it  the  people  are  to  be  allowed 
as  much  liberty  of  self-government  as  is  consistent  with  the 
general  occupation  of  the  country  by  the  United  States.  You,  as 
commander-in-chief  of  the  squadron,  may  exercise  the  right  to 
interdict  the  entrance  of  any  vessel  or  articles,  that  would  be  un 
favourable  to  our  success  in  the  war,  into  any  of  the  enemy's  ports 
which  you  may  occupy.  With  this  exception,  all  United  States 
vessels  and  merchandise  must  be  allowed,  by  the  local  authorities 


108  INSTRUCTIONS  TO   COM.   BIDDLE. 

of  the  ports  of  which  you  take  possession,  to  come  and  go  free  of 
duty ;  but  on  foreign  vessels  and  goods  reasonable  duties  may  be 
imposed,  collected,  and  disposed  of  by  the  local  authorities,  under 
your  general  superintendence. 

A  military  force  has  been  directed  by  the  Secretary  of  War  to 
proceed  to  the  western  coast  of  California  for  the  purpose  of  co 
operation  with  the  navy,  in  taking  possession  of  and  holding  the 
ports  and  positions  which  have  been  specified,  and  for  otherwise 
operating  against  Mexico. 

A  detachment  of  these  troops,  consisting  of  a  company  of  artillery, 
under  command  of  Captain  Tompkins,  has  sailed  in  the  United 
States  ship  Lexington.  A  regiment  of  volunteers,  under  Col. 
Stevenson,  will  soon  sail  from  New  York ;  and  a  body  of  troops 
tinder  Brigadier-general  Kearny  may  reach  the  coast  via  Santa 
Fe.  Copies  of  so  much  of  the  instructions  to  Capt.  Tompkins  and 
Gen.  Kearny  as  relates  to  objects  requiring  co-operation  are  here 
with  enclosed.* 

By  article  6  of  the  "  General  Regulations  for  the  Army,"t  edition 
of  1825,  which  is  held  by  the  War  Department  to  be  still  in  force, 
and  of  which  I  enclose  you  a  copy,  your  commission  £that  is,  the 
commission  of  Commodore  Biddle]  places  you  in  point  of  prece 
dence,  on  occasions  of  ceremony  or  upon  meetings  for  consultation, 
in  the  class  of  major-general,  but  no  officer  of  the  army  or  navy, 
whatever  may  be  his  rank,  can  assume  any  direct  command,  inde 
pendent  of  consent,  over  an  officer  of  the  other  service,  excepting 
only  when  land  forces  are  specially  embarked  in  vessels  of  War  to 
do  the  duty  of  marines. 

The  President  expects  and  requires,  however,  the  most  cordial 
and  effectual  co-operation  between  the  officers  of  the  two  services, 
in  taking  possession  of  and  holding  the  ports  and  positions  of  the 
enemy  which  are  designated  in  the  instructions  to  either  or  both 
branches  of  the  service,  and  will  hold  any  commander  of  either 
branch  to  a  strict  responsibility  for  any  failure  to  preserve  harmony 
and  secure  the  objects  proposed. 

*  See  Chapter  4,  and  Appendix.  •(•  Appendix,  No.  10. 


INSTRUCTIONS  TO   COM.  BIDDLE.  109 

•  The  land  forces  which  have  been  or  will  be  sent  to  the  Pacific 
may  be  dependent  upon  the  vessels  of  your  squadron  for  transpor 
tation  from  one  point  to  another,  and  for  shelter  and  protection  in 
case  of  being  compelled  to  abandon  positions  on  the  coast.  It  may 
be  necessary  also  to  furnish  transportation  for  their  supplies,  or 
to  furnish  the  supplies  themselves,  by  the  vessels  under  your 
direction. 

In  all  such  cases  you  will  furnish  all  the  assistance  in  your 
power  which  will  not  interfere  with  objects  that,  in  your  opinion, 
are  of  greater  importance. 

You  will,  taking  care,  however,  to  advise  with  any  land  officer 
of  high  rank — say  of  the  rank  of  brigadier-general — who  may  be 
at  hand,  make  the  necessary  regulations  for  the  ports  that  may  be 
occupied. 

Having  provided  for  the  full  possession  of  Upper  California,  the 
next  point  of  importance  is  the  Gulf  of  California.  From  the  best 
judgment  I  can  form,  you  should  take  possession  of  the  port  of 
Guaymas.  The  progress  of  our  arms  will  probably  be  such  that, 
in  conjunction  with  land  forces,  you  will  be  able  to  hold  possession 
of  Guaymas,  and  so  to  reduce  all  the  country  north  of  it  on  the 
gulf. 

As  to  the  ports  south  of  it,  especially  Mazatlan  and  Acapulco, 
it  is  not  possible  to  give  you  special  instructions.  Generally,  you 
'will  take  possession  of,  or  blockade,  according  to  your  best  judg 
ment,  all  Mexican  ports  as  far  as  your  means  allow ;  but  south  of 
Guaymas,  if  the  provinces  rise  up  against  the  central  government, 
and  manifest  friendship  towards  the  United  States,  you  may, 
according  to  your  discretion,  enter  into  a  temporary  agreement  of 
neutrality.  But  this  must  be  done  only  on  condition  that  our  ships 
have  free  access  to  their  ports,  and  equal  commercial  rights  with 
those  of  other  nations  ;  that  you  are  allowed  to  take  in  water  and 
fuel,  to  purchase  supplies,  to  go  to  and  from  shore  without  obstruc 
tion,  as  in  time  of  peace ;  and  that  the  provinces  which  are  thus 
neutral  shall  absolutely  abstain  from  contributing  towards  the  con 
tinuance  of  the  war  by  the  central  government  of  Mexico  against 
the  United  States. 

K 


110  INSTRUCTIONS  TO   COM.  SHUBRICK. 

Generally  you  will  exercise  the  rights  of  a  belligerent;  and  bear 
in  mind  that  the  greater  advantages  you  obtain,  the  more  speedy 
and  the  more  advantageous  will  be  the  peace.  *• 

The  Savannah,  the  Warren,  and  the  Levant  ought  soon  to  re 
turn.  If  you  hear  of  peace  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico, 
you  will  at  once  send  them  home. 

If  war  continues,  you  will  send  them  home  singly,  or  in  com 
pany,  at  the  earliest  day  they  can  be  spared.     The  Savannah  will 
go  to  New  York,  and  the  Warren  and  Levant  to  Norfolk. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE  BANCROFT. 
To  Com.  JAMES  BIDDLE,  or 
Com.  R.  F.  STOCKTON,  or 
The  SENIOR  OFFICER  in  command  of  the 

United  States  Naval  Forces  in  the  Pacific  ocean. 

Four  days  after  the  date  of  the  above,  on  the  17th  of  August, 
Mr.  Bancroft  addressed  to  "Commodore  W.  B.  Shubrick,  ap 
pointed  to  command  the  United  States  naval  forces  in  the  Pacific 
ocean,"  a  letter  of  instructions*  exactly  similar,  (with  the  omission 
of  the  words  in  brackets,  "  that  is  the  commission  of  Commodore 
Biddle,)  and  with  the  insertion  of  the  following : 

"Should  Commodore  Biddle  be  in  the  Pacific,  off  the  shores  of 
Mexico,  at  the  time  you  arrive  there,  you  will  report  yourself  to 
him;  and  as  long  as  he  remains  off  the  coast  of  Mexico,  you 
will  act  under  his  direction  in  concert  with  him,  communicating 
to  him  these  instructions." 

On  the  1st  of  July,  1846,  the  naval  forces  under  the  command 
of  Com.  Sloat  consisted  of  the  frigate  Savannah;  sloops  Ports 
mouth,  Levant,  Warren,  and  Cyane ;  schooners  Shark,  and 
store-ship  Erie.  They  were  reinforded  by  the  frigate  Congress, 
Commodore  Stockton  ;  the  sloops  Saratoga,*  Dale,  and  Preble,  and 


*  Appendix,  No.  11. 

f  Saratoga,  disabled  by  stress  of  weather,  returned  before  reaching  her  destina 
tion. 


COMMENCEMENT   OF   OPERATIONS.  Ill 

by  the  razee  Independence,  under  command  of  Com.  W.  Bradford 
Shubrick,  who  went  out  to  relieve  Com.  Sloat,.  under  orders  issued 
in  August,  1846. 

,;  The  frigate  Columbus,  Com.  James  Biddle,  had  also  been  or 
dered  on  the  6th  of  January,  1846,  from  the  China  seas,  to  the 
north-west  coast  of  America,  and  to  assume  the  command,  but 
could  not  reach  the  station  till  a  later  period. 

The  active  operations  of  the  Pacific  squadron  were  commenced 
under  the  order  of  June,  1845,  which  required  the  commander  of 
the  naval  forces  "  to  exercise  all  the  belligerent  rights  which  be 
longed  to  him  on  the  declaration  of  war,  or  the  commencement  of 
hostilities  by  Mexico  against  the  United  States." 

On  the  7th  of  June,  1846,  Com.  Sloat  received,  at  Mazatlan, 
satisfactory  information,  through  Mexico,  "  that  the  Mexican  troops, 
six  or  seven  thousand  strong,  had,  by  order  of  the  Mexican  go 
vernment,  invaded  the  territory  of  the  United  States,  north  of  the 
Rio  Grande,  and  had  attacked  the  forces  under  Gen.  Taylor,  and 
that  the  squadron  of  the  United  States  was  blockading  the  ports 
of  Mexico  on  the  Gulf,  and  he  properly  considered  these  hostilities 
as  justifying  his  commencing  offensive  operations  on  the  west 
coast."* 

Distance  had  precluded  their  knowledge  of  the  order  of  the 
13th  of  May,  1846 ;  issued  on  the  day  when  the  American  Con 
gress  recognised  the  fact  that  war  existed — and,  indeed,  of  all  the 
subsequent  instructions,  until  the  Conquest  of  California  had  been 
almost  consummated. 

Thus  had  the  time  of  action  arrived,  and  right  quickly  did  our 
gallant  tars  enter  upon  a  series  of  achievements  as  glorious  and 
important  as  they  were  novel  and  exciting. 

On  the  day  after  the  receipt  of  the  war  news,  Com.  Sloat,  in 
the  flag-ship  Savannah,  left  Mazatlan,  and,  on  the  2d  of  July, 
reached  Monterey  in  Upper  California.  Here  he  found  the 
Cyane  and  Levant,  and  learned  that  the  Portsmouth  was  at  San 
Francisco,  as  before  arranged. 

*  Report  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


112  SEIZURE   OF  MONTEREY. 

Having  previously  examined  the  defences,  &c.,  of  the  town, 
and  made  every  arrangement,  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  Capt. 
Wm.  Mervine,  of  the  United  States  navy,  was  sent  to  demand  its 
immediate  surrender.  By  9  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  answer  of  the 
Mexican  commandant  was  received.  He  stated  that  he  was  not 
authorized  to  surrender  the  place,  and  referred  Com.  Sloat  to 
the  commanding  general  of  California,  Don  Jose  Castro.  By 
10  o'clock,  the  necessary  force  of  250  seamen  and  marines  were 
landed  under  the  immediate  command  of  Capt.  Mervine,  assisted 
by  Commander  H.  N.  Page,  as  second,  and  were  immediately 
inarched  to  the  custom-house,  where  Com.  Sloat's  "proclamation 
was  read,  the  standard  of  the  United  States  hoisted  amid  three 
hearty  cheers,  by  the  troops  and  foreigners  present,  and  a  salute 
of  twenty-one  guns  fired  by  all  the  ships.  Immediately  after 
wards,  the  proclamation,  both  in  English  and  Spanish,  was  posted 
up  about  the  town,  and  two  justices  of  the  peace  appointed  to 
preserve  order  and  punish  delinquencies,  the  alcaldes  declining  to 
serve."* 

The  following  is  the  proclamation  above  alluded  to : — 

To  the  Inhabitants  of  California. 

The  central  government  of  Mexico  having  commenced  hostili 
ties  against  the  United  States  of  America,  by  invading  its  territory, 
and  attacking  the  troops  of  the  United  States  stationed  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  with  a  force  of  7000  men  under 
the  command  of  Gen.  Arista,  which  army  was  totally  destroyed, 
and  all  their  artillery,  baggage,  &c.,  captured  on  the  8th  and  9th 
of  May  last,  by  a  force  of  2300  men,  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Taylor,  and  the  city  of  Matamoras  taken  and  occupied  by  the 
forces  of  the  United  States,  and  the  two  nations  being  actually  at 
war  by  this  transaction,  I  shall  hoist  the  standard  of  the  United 
States  at  Monterey  immediately,  and  shall  carry  it  throughout  Cali 
fornia. 

I  declare  to  the  inhabitants  of  California,  that,  although  I  come 

*  Com.  Sloat's  despatch,  of  31st  of  July,  1846. 


COM.   SLOAT'S   PROCLAMATION.  113 

in  arms  with  a  powerful  force,  I  do  not  come  among  them  as  an 
enemy  to  California :  on  the  contrary,  I  come  as  their  best  friend, 
as  henceforth  California  will  be  a  portion  of  the  United  States, 
and  its  peaceable  inhabitants  will  enjoy  the  same  rights  and  pri 
vileges  they  now  enjoy,  together  with  the  privilege  of  choosing 
their  own  magistrates  and  other  officers  for  the  administration  of 
justice  among  themselves,  and  the  same  protection  will  be  ex 
tended  to  them  as  to  any  other  State  in  the  Union.  They  will 
also  enjoy  a  permanent  government,  under  which  life,  property, 
and  the  constitutional  right  and  lawful  security  to  worship  the 
Creator  in  the  way  most  congenial  to  each  one's  sense  of  duty, 
will  be  secured,  which,  unfortunately,  the  central  government  of 
Mexico  cannot  afford  them,  destroyed,  as  her  resources  are  by  in 
ternal  factions,  and  corrupt  officers,  who  create  constant  revolu 
tions  to  promote  their  own  interests  and  oppress  the  people. 
Under  the  flag  of  the  United  States,  California  will  be  free  from 
all  such  troubles  and  expense ;  consequently,  the  country  will 
rapidly  advance  and  improve  both  in  agriculture  and  commerce, 
as,  of  course,  the  revenue  laws  will  be  the  same  in  California  as 
in  all  other  parts  of  the  United  States,  affording  them  all  manufac 
tures  and  produce  of  the  United  States,  free  of  any  duty,  and  all 
foreign  goods  at  one  quarter  of  the  duty  they  now  pay.  A  great 
increase  in  the  value  of  real  estate  and  the  products  of  California 
may  also  be  anticipated. 

With  the  great  interest  and  kind  feelings  I  know  the  govern 
ment  and  people  of  the  United  States  possess  towards  the  citi 
zens  of  California,  the  country  cannot  but  improve  more  rapidly 
than  any  other  on  the  continent  of  America. 

Such  of  the  inhabitants  of  California,  whether  native  or  foreign 
ers,  as  may  not  be  disposed  to  accept  the  high  privileges  of  citi 
zenship,  and  to  live  peaceably  under  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  will  be  allowed  time  to  dispose  of  their  property,  and  to 
remove  out  of  the  country,  if  they  choose,  without  any  restriction ; 
or  remain  in  it,  observing  strict  neutrality. 

With  full  confidence  in  the  honour  and  integrity  of  the  inhabit 
ants  of  the  country,  I  invite  the  judges,  alcaldes,  and  other  civil 

K2  8 


114  SUMMONS  TO   GEN.  CASTRO. 

officers,  to  retain  their  offices,  and  to  execute  their  functions  as 
heretofore,  that  the  public  tranquillity  may  not  be  disturbed ;  at 
least,  until  the  government  of  the  territory  can  be  more  definitely 
arranged. 

All  persons  holding  titles  to  real  estate,  or  in  quiet  possession  of 
lands  under  a  colour  of  right,  shall  have  those  titles  and  rights 
guarantied  to  them. 

All  churches,  and  the  property  they  contain,  in  possession  of  the 
clergy  of  California,  shall  continue  in  the  same  rights  and  posses 
sions  they  now  enjoy. 

All  provisions  and  supplies  of  every  kind  furnished  by  the 
inhabitants  for  the  use  of  the  United  States  ships. and  soldiers  will 
be  paid  for  at  fair  rates  ;  and  no  private  property  will  be  taken  for 
public  use  without  just  compensation  at  the  moment. 

JOHN  D.  SLOAT, 

Commander-in-chief  of  the  United  States 
Naval  Force  in  the  Pacific  ocean. 

Previous  to  landing,  Com.  Sloat  had  an  order  read  to  the  crews 
of  all  the  ships,  in  the  spirit  of  the  proclamation,  enforcing  order, 
vigilance,  &c.,  so  that,  from  the  moment  of  landing  to  that  of  de 
parture,  not  the  least  depredation,  or  slightest  injury,  or  irregu 
larity,  was  committed. 

Immediately  after  taking  possession  of  Monterey,  a  courier  was 
despatched  to  Don  Jose  Castro,  with  a  copy  of  the  proclamation, 
requiring  him,  in  order  to  prevent  the  sacrifice  of  life  and  the  hor 
rors  of  war,  to  surrender  every  thing  under  his  control  and  juris 
diction  in  California ;  and  he  was  invited  to  meet  Com.  Sloat  at 
Monterey,  to  enter  into  articles  of  capitulation,  that  he,  with  his 
officers  and  soldiers,  together  with  the  inhabitants  of  California, 
might  receive  assurance  of  perfect  safety  to  themselves  and  pos 
terity. 

To  which  a  reply,  dated  "  Head-quarters,  San  Juan  de  Bautista, 
July  9,"  was  received,  stating,  that  in  a  matter  of  so  much  import 
ance,  he  must  consult  the  governor  and  assembly  of  the  depart 
ment  ;  meanwhile,  he  should  spare  no  sacrifice  in  the  defence  of 


SEIZURE   OF   YERBA  BUENA.  115 

the  country  under  his  charge,  as  long  as  he  could  reckon  on  a 
single  individual  to  join  him  in  the  cause. 

On  the  9th,  Com.  Sloat  despatched  a  letter,  by  courier,  to  Don 
Pio  Pico,  the  governor  at  Santa  Barbara,  informing  him  of  the 
summons  to  Gen.  Castro  to  surrender  the  country — of  the  procla 
mation — assuring  him  that  not  the  least  impropriety  had  been  com 
mitted  in  the  town,  its  business  and  social  intercourse  remaining 
undisturbed,  and  invites  Pico  to  come  to  Monterey  to  assure  him 
self,  &c.,  so  that  he  may  be  satisfied,  and  through  him  the  people 
of  California,  that  "  although  he  comes  in  arms  with  a  powerful 
force,  he  comes  as  the  best  friend  of  California ;"  concluding  with 
the  assurance  that  he  had  "  already  employed  all  the  means  in  his 
power  to  stop  the  sacrifice  of  human  life  in  the  north,"  and  of  his 
belief  that  he  shall  succeed,  "  provided  there  is  no  further  opposi 
tion."  To  this  no  answer  is  known  to  have  been  returned. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  Com.  Sloat  wrote : 

FLAG  SHIP  SAVANSTAH, 

Monterey,  July  6, 1846. 

SIR  :  Since  I  wrote  you  last  evening,  I  have  determined  to  hoist 
the  flag  of  the  United  States  at  this  place  to-morrow,  as  I  would 
prefer  being  sacrificed  for  doing  too  much  than  too  little. 

If  you  consider  you  have  sufficient  force,  or  if  Fremont  will  join 
you,  you  will  hoist  the  flag  of  the  United  States  at  Yerba  Buena, 
or  any  other  proper  place,  and  take  possession,  in  the  name  of  the 
United  States,  of  the  fort,  and  that  portion  of  the  country. 

I  send  you  a  copy  of  my  summons  to  the  military  commandant 
of  Monterey  to  surrender  the  place,  and  also  my  proclamation  to 
the  people  of  California,  which  you  will  have  translated  into 
Spanish,  and  promulgate  many  copies  in  both  languages.  I  have 
sent  a  similar  letter  to  Gen.  Castro,  with  an  addition  of  an  invita 
tion  for  him  to  meet  me  at  this  place  to  enter  into  a  capitulation 
I  will  send  you  a  duplicate  copy  of  these  documents  to-morrow, 
which  I  hope  will  reach  you  before  the  boat  can  get  up.  You  will 
secure  the  bay  of  San  Francisco  as  soon  as  possible,  at  all  events. 
It  is  my  intention  to  go  up  to  San  Francisco  as  soon  as  I  can  leave 
this,  which  I  hope  will  not  be  many  days. 


116  SEIZURE   OF  YERBA  BUENA. 

Mr.  Larkin  advises  that  you  should  not  send  by  courier  any 
thing  that  would  do  harm  to  make  public ;  and  should  you  have 
any  thing  that  you  consider  important  for  me  to  know,  you  can 
send  the  launch  down  again. 

I  am  very  anxious  to  know  if  Capt.  Fremont  will  co-operate 
with  us.  Mr.  Larkin  is  writing  to  him  by  the  launch,  and  you 
will  please  put  him  in  possession  of  his  letter  as  soon  as  possible. 
I  have  not  time  to  write  more  at  present. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant,  &c., 

JOHN  D.  SLOAT, 
Commander-in-chief,  fyc. 
To  Commander  J.  B.  MONTGOMERY, 

U.  S.  ship  Portsmouth,  San  Francisco. 

A  duplicate  of  this  order,  sent  by  land,  was  received  by  Com 
mander  Montgomery  on  the  8th,  who,  in  a  few  hours  after  its 
receipt,  despatched  Lieut.  Revere  to  Capt.  John  Grigsby,  at  So- 
noura,  with  Com.  Sioat's  letter,  and  flags  for  him  and  Suiter's  fort, 
on  the  Sacramento.  At  eight  o'clock  next  morning,  Com.  Mont 
gomery  landed  at  Yerba  Buena  with  seventy  seamen  and  marines — 
hoisted  the  American  flag  in  the  public  square,  with  twenty-one 
guns  from  the  sloop  of  war  Portsmouth,  amid  cheers  from  all  quar 
ters — addressed  the  people,  and  posted  the  proclamation  on  the 
flag-staff.  The  seamen  and  a  few  of  the  marines  returned  to  the 
ship,  without  a  man  having  left  the  ranks.  Lieut.  H.  B.  Watson, 
of  the  marine  corps,  remained  with  part  of  his  guard,  and  was 
formally  installed  as  military  occupant  of  the  post.  The  male 
residents  of  Yerba  Buena  were  then  called  together,  and  a  volunteer 
guard  of  thirty-two  men  at  once  enrolled,  and  electing  their  own  offi 
cers,  were  fully  organized  for  emergency,  under  the  direction  of 
Lieuts.  Missroon,  of  the  navy,  and  Watson.  At  one  o'clock,  Lieut. 
Missroon  was,  by  order,  on  his  way  to  the  Presidio  and  fort,  with 
an  armed  party  of  this  volunteer  guard  to  ascertain  their  condition, 
&c. ;  and  that  day  promptly  reported  he  had  found  the  Presidio 
abandoned — the  fort,  about  seven  miles  from  the  town,  in  a  dilapi 
dated  condition,  with  three  old  Spanish  pieces,  made  in  1623, 


SEIZURE   OF  YERBA  BUENA.  117 


1628,  and  1693,  besides  three  long  iron  forty-twos,  and  four  smaller 
iron  guns — all  the  iron  guns  lately  spiked  by  Capt.  Fremont,  but 
that  new  vents  might  be  drilled  in  the  brass  ones,  &c. ;  and  that 
he  had  displayed  the  flag  of  the  United  States  upon  its  ramparts. 
On  the  same  day,  Commander  Montgomery  ordered  Purser  Wat- 
mough  to  proceed  to  Santa  Clara,  and  to  the  Pueblo,  if  necessary, 
to  intercept  Capt.  Fremont,  then  on  his  march  from  the  Sacra 
mento,  and  deliver  a  notification  of  the  change  in  the  political  con 
dition  of  California — of  the  official  notification  of  the  existence  of 
the  war,  and  of  Com.  Sloat's  request  to  see  him  in  Monterey — 
"  with  a  view  to  future  arrangements  and  co-operation,  at  as  early 
a  period  as  possible."  On  the  same  day,  Commander  Montgo 
mery  issued  a  proclamation,  calling  upon  "all  the  residents  of  the 
district,  agreeably  to  the  laws  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
regulating  the  militia,  to  enrol  themselves  into  a  military  company, 
appoint  their  own  officers,  &c. — for  the  maintenance  of  order,  and 
protection  of  property  in  Yerba  Buena  and  its  immediate  neigh 
bourhood  ;  and  Henry  B.  Watson,  Esq.,  was  appointed  military 
commandant  pro  tern,  of  all  the  marines  and  militia."  On  the 
llth,  Commander  Montgomery  informed  Com.  Sloat  that  the  flag 
of  the  United  States  was  then  flying  at  Yerba  Buena,  at  Sutter's 
fort,  on  the  Sacramento,  at  Bodega,  on  the  coast,  and  at  Sonoura, 
and  adds,  "the  protection  of  person  and  property  which  our  flag 
promises  to  California  and  its  inhabitants,  seems  to  be  generally 
hailed  with  satisfaction." 

That  day,  says  Commander  Montgomery,  the  Juno,  British  26 
gun  ship,  arrived  and  anchored  at  Sausalita,  &c.  "On  the 
appearance  of  that  ship,  the  necessary  preparation  was  made  to 
defend  our  position,  in  the  event  of  English  opposition  to  our 
claims."  It  thus  became  necessary  to  withdraw  the  marines  from 
the  shore  to  the  ship.  Ashore  the  flag  of  the  United  States  was 
committed,  by  Mr.  Watson,  to  the  care  of  the  "  Volunteer  Guards 
of  Yerba  Buena,  who  "  unanimously  gave  the  strongest  assurances 
that  it  should  wave  while  a  single  man  of  the  "  Guards"  lived  to 
defend  it. 

A  summons  was  sent,  by  Commander  Montgomery,  to  the  mili- 


1J8  CORPS   OF  DRAGOONS   ORGANIZED. 


tary  commandant  of  that  district,  Don  Francisco  Sanchez,  to 
deliver  up  arms,  public  property,  &c.,  and  to  come  in  ;  which  he 
did,  and  stated  that  he  possessed  no  public  property,  but  indicated 
where  several  guns  were  buried. 

Lieut.  Missroon  was  ordered  to  the  Mission  of  Dolores  in  search 
of  arms,  ammunition,  &c.,  and  the  public  documents  of  the  district. 
No  arms  were  found.  A  collection  of  public  documents  was  made, 
carefully  packed  and  sealed  with  the  consulate  seal,  &c.,  and  de 
posited  in  the  custom-house  at  Yerba  Buena. 

The  details  of  gallant  exploits  and  achievements  in  this  quarter 
of  the  war  are  abundantly  full  of  interest ;  it  is  not,  however,  per 
mitted  in  the  plan  of  this  work  to  do  otherwise  than  sketch  their 
outlines,  hence  the  most  concise  official  reports  must  be  followed, 
however  unwillingly. 

At  their  request,  on  the  13th  July,  Com.  Sloat  furnished  a  flag 
to  the  foreigners  of  the  Pueblo  of  San  Jose,  about  seventy  miles 
interior  from  Monterey,  and  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace,  the*, 
alcaldes  declining  to  serve.  On  the  8th,  Purser  D.  Fauntleroy, 
well  qualified  for  such  service,  was  ordered  to  organize  a  company 
of  thirty-five  dragoons,  from  volunteers  from  the  ships  and  citi 
zens,  to  reconnoitre  the  country,  keep  the  communication  open 
between  Monterey  and  San  Francisco,  &c.  Of  this  troop,  passed 
Midshipman  McLane  was  appointed  first  lieutenant.  On  the  17th, 
this  command  was  ordered  to  reconnoitre  as  far  as  the  mission  of 
St.  John's  ;  to  take  possession  of  that  place,  hoist  the  flag,  and  to 
recover  ten  brass  guns,  said  to  have  been  buried  there  when  he 
retreated  from  that  place.  On  his  arrival  there,  Mr.  Fauntleroy 
found  the  place  had  been  taken  possession  of  an  hour  or  two  pre 
vious  by  Capt.  Fremont,  with  whom  he  returned  to  Monterey  on 
the  19th.  Subsequently  Mr.  Fauntleroy  garrisoned  the  mission 
of  St.  Johns — dug  up  and  mounted  the  guns,  and  recovered  a 
large  quantity  of  powder  and  shot  secreted  there,  and  kept  open 
the  communication  between  St.  Johns,  the  Pueblo  of  San  Jose,  and 
San  Francisco. 

From  the  return  of  Capt.  Fremont  with  Mr.  Fauntleroy  resulted 
the  first  interview  between  the  former  and  Com.  Sloat. 


COM.  STOCKTON'S   REPORT.  119 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  15th,  the  frigate  Congress  arrived  at 
Monterey,  and  Com.  Stockton  reported  for  duty. 

On  the  16th,  the  British  admiral,  Sir  George  Seymour,  arrived 
in  the  Collingwood,  80.  An  officer  was  immediately  sent  to  tender 
him  the  usual  courtesies,  &c.,  of  the  port.  He  was  subsequently 
furnished  with  spars  for  his  ship.  On  the  23d,  Com.  Stockton 
was  ordered  to  the  command  on  shore ;  and  on  the  29th  of  July 
Com.  Sloat  found  his  infirm  health  so  enfeebled  by  his  arduous 
duties,  that  he  determined  to  avail  himself  of  a  permission  which 
had  been  given  him,  in  his  discretion,  to  assign  the  command  to 
Com.  Stockton,  and  sailed  for  Panama  on  his  return  home. 
"After  encountering  much  peril  and  hardship,  this  gallant  and 
meritorious  officer  arrived  at  the  seat  of  government  early  in  No 
vember,  1846."* 

The  operations  of  Com.  Stockton  are  rapidly  sketched,  by  him 
self,  down  to  the  28th  of  August,  in  the  following  despatch : 

CuiDAD    DE   LOS   ANGELES, 

August  28,  1846. 

SIR  :  You  have  already  been  informed  of  my  having,  on  the 
23d  of  July,  assumed  the  command  of  the  United  States  forces  on 
the  west  coast  of  Mexico.  I  have  now  the  honour  to  inform  you 
that  the  flag  of  the  United  States  is  flying  from  every  commanding 
position  in  the  territory  of  California,  and  that  this  rich  and  beauti 
ful  country  belongs  to  the  United  States,  and  is  for  ever  free  from 
Mexican  dominion. 

On  the  day  after  I  took  this  command  I  organized  the  "Cali 
fornia  battalion  of  mounted  riflemen,"  by  the  appointment  of  all 
the  necessary  officers,  and  received  them  as  volunteers  into  the 
service  of  the  United  States.  Capt.  Fremont  was  appointed 
major,  and  Lieut.  Gillespie  captain  of  the  battalion. 

The  next  day  they  were  embarked  on  board  the  sloop  of  war 
Cyane,  Commander  Dupont,  and  sailed  from  Monterey  for  San 
Diego,  that  they  might  be  landed  to  the  southward  of  the  Mexican 
forces,  amounting  to  500  men,  under  Gen.  Castro  and  Governor 

*  Secretary  Mason's  Report,  5th  Dec.  1846. 


120  COM.   STOCKTON'S  REPORT. 


Pico,  and  who  were  well  fortified  at  the  "Camp  of  the  Mesa," 
three  miles  from  this  city. 

A  few  days  after  the  Cyane  left,  I  sailed  in  the  Congress  for 
San  Pedro,  the  port  of  entry  for  this  department,  and  thirty  miles 
from  this  place,  where  I  landed  with  my  gallant  sailor  army,  and 
marched  directly  for  the  redoubtable  "  Camp  of  the  Mesa." 

But  when  we  arrived  within  twelve  miles  of  the  camp,  General 
Castro  broke  ground  and  run  for  the  city  of  Mexico.  The  go 
vernor  of  the  territory,  and  the  other  principal  officers,  separated 
in  different  parties,  and  ran  away  in  different  directions. 

Unfortunately,  the  mounted  riflemen  did  not  get  up  in  time  to 
head  them  off.  We  have  since,  however,  taken  most  of  the 
principal  officers :  the  rest  will  be  permitted  to  remain  quiet  at 
home,  under  the  restrictions  contained  in  my  proclamation  of 
the  17th. 

On  the  13th  of  August,  having  been  joined  by  Major  Fremont 
with  about  eighty  riflemen,  and  M.  Larkin,  late  American  consul, 
we  entered  this  famous  "  City  of  the  Angels,"  the  capital  of  the 
Californias,  and  took  unmolested  possession  of  the  government 
house. 

Thus,  in  less  than  a  month  after  I  assumed  the  command  of  the 
United  States  force  in  California,  we  have  chased  the  Mexican 
army  more  than  three  hundred  miles  along  the  coast ;  pursued 
them  thirty  miles  in  the  interior  of  their  own  country ;  routed  and 
dispersed  them,  and  secured  the  territory  to  the  United  States ; 
ended  the  \var;  restored  peace  and  harmony  among  the  people; 
and  put  a  civil  government  into  successful  operation. 

The  Warren  and  Cyane  sailed  a  few  days  since  to  blockade  the 
west  coast  of  Mexico,  south  of  San  Diego ;  and  having  almost 
finished  my  work  here,  I  will  sail  in  the  Congress  as  soon  as  the 
store-ship  arrives,  and  I  can  get  supplied  with  provisions,  on  a 
cruise  for  the  protection  of  our  commerce;  and  dispose  of  the 
other  vessels  as  most  effectually  to  attain  that  object,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  keep  the  southern  coast  strictly  blockaded. 

When  I  leave  the  Territory,  I  will  appoint  Major  Fremont  to  be 
governor,  and  Lieut.  Gillespie  to  be  secretary. 


COM.   STOCKTON'S   PROCLAMATION.  121 

I  enclose  you  several  papers,  marked  from  1  to  14  inclusive, 
including  this  letter,  and  the  first  number  of  the  "  Californian," 
by  which  you  will  see  what  sort  of  a  government  I  have  esta 
blished,  and  how  I  am  proceeding. 

I  have  not  time  to  specify  individual  merit ;  but  I  cannot  omit 
to  say,  that  I  do  not  think  that  ardent  patriotism  and  indomitable 
courage  have  ever  been  more  evident  than  amongst  the  officers 
and  men,  360  in  number,  from  the  frigate  Congress,  who  accom 
panied  me  on  this  trying  and  hazardous  march — a  longer  march, 
perhaps,  than  has  ever  been  made  in  the  interior  of  a  country  by 
sailors,  after  an  enemy.  I  would  likewise  say,  that  the  conduct 
of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  whole  squadron  has  been  praise 
worthy. 

I  have  received  your  despatch  of  the  13th  of  May,  and  at  the 
same  time  a  Mexican  account  of  the  proceedings  of  Congress,  and 
the  President's  proclamation,  by  the  United  States  ship  Warren, 
from  Mazatlan. 

Faithfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

R.  F.  STOCKTON. 

To  the  Hon.  GEORGE  BANCROFT, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  despatch  had  been  sent  overland  from  Chagres,  and  arrived 
on  the  19th  of  August.  It  will  thus  be  seen,  at  what  distant  time 
the  President's  proclamation  reached  the  distant  scene,  where  vic 
tory  had  already  crowned  the  arms  of  the  republic.  The  instruc 
tions  of  a  subsequent  date  were,  of  course,  still  on  the  'vay. 

Meanwhile,  the  proclamation,  indicated  in  the  above  letter,  had 
been  issued,  as  follows  : — 

To  THE  PEOPLE  OF  CALIFORNIA  ! 

On  my  approach  to  this  place  with  the  forces  under  my  com 
mand,  Jose  Castro,  the  commandant-general  of  California,  buried 
his  artillery,  and  abandoned  his  fortified  camp  "  of  the  Mesa," 
and  fled,  it  is  believed,  towards  Mexico. 

With  the  sailors,  the  marines,  and  the  California  battalion  of 
mounted  Riflemen,  we  entered  the  "  City  of  the  Angels,"  the 


122  COM.   STOCKTON'S  PROCLAMATION. 

capital  of  California,  on  the  13th  of  August,  and  hoisted  the  North 
American  flag. 

The  flag  of  the  United  States  is  now  flying  from  every  com 
manding  position  in  the  territory,  and  California  is  entirely  free 
from  Mexican  dominion. 

The  Territory  of  California  now  belongs  to  the  United  States, 
and  will  be  governed,  as  soon  as  circumstances  will  permit,  by 
officers  and  laws  similar  to  those  by  which  the  other  Territories 
of  the  United  States  are  regulated  and  protected. 

But,  until  the  governor,  the  secretary,  and  council  are  ap 
pointed,  and  the  various  civil  departments  of  the  government  are 
arranged,  military  law  will  prevail,  and  the  commander-in-chief 
will  be  the  governor  and  protector  of  the  Territory. 

In  the  mean  time  the  people  will  be  permitted,  and  are  now  re 
quested,  to  meet  in  their  several  towns  and  departments,  at  such 
time  and  place  as  they  may  see  fit,  to  elect  civil  officers  to  fill  the 
places  of  those  who  decline  to  continue  in  office',  and  to  adminis 
ter  the  laws  according  to  the  former  usages  of  the  Territory.  In 
all  cases  where  the  people  fail  to  elect,  the  commander-in-chief  and 
governor  will  make  the  appointments  himself. 

All  persons  of  whatever  religion  or  nation,  who  faithfully  ad 
here  to  the  new  government,  will  be  considered  as  citizens  of  the 
Territory,  and  will  be  zealously  and  thoroughly  protected  in  the 
liberty  of  conscience,  their  persons,  and  property. 

No  persons  will  be  permitted  to  remain  in  the  Territory  who  do 
not  agree  to  support  the  existing  government ;  and  all  military 
men  who  desire  to  remain,  are  required  to  take  an  oath  that  they 
will  not  take  up  arms  against  it,  or  do  or  say  any  thing  to  disturb 
its  peace. 

Nor  will  any  persons,  come  from  where  they  may,  be  permitted 
to  settle  in  the  Territory,  who  do  not  pledge  themselves  to  be,  in 
all  respects,  obedient  to  the  laws  which  may  be  from  time  to  time 
enacted  by  the  proper  authorities  of  the  Territory. 

All  persons  who,  without  special  permission,  are  found  with 
arms  outside  of  their  own  houses,  will  be  considered  as  enemies, 
and  will  be  shipped  out  of  the  country. 


FORM   OF   GOVERNMENT.  123 


All  thieves  will  be  put  to  hard  labour  on  the  public  works,  and 
there  kept  until  compensation  is  made  for  the  property  stolen. 

The  California  battalion  of  mounted  Riflemen  will  be  kept  in 
the  service  of  the  Territory,  and  constantly  on  duty,  to  prevent 
and  punish  any  aggressions  by  the  Indians,  or  any  other  persons, 
upon  the  property  of  individuals,  or  the  peace  of  the  Territory; 
and  California  shall  hereafter  be  so  governed  and  defended  as  to 
give  security  to  the  inhabitants,  and  to  defy  the  power  of  Mexico. 

All  persons  are  required,  as  long  as  the  Territory  is  under  mar 
tial  law,  to  be  within  their  houses  from  ten  o'clock  at  night,  until 
sunrise  in  the  morning. 

R.  F.  STOCKTON, 
Commander-in-chief  and  Governor  of  the  Territory  of  California. 

ClJIDAD    DE    LOS   ANGELES,  JLugUSt  17,  1846. 

The  form  of  government  established,  was  announced  as  fol 
lows  : — 

"  I,  Robert  F.  Stockton,  commander-in-chief  of  the  United  States 
forces  in  the  Pacific  ocean,  and  governor  of  the  Territory  of  Cali 
fornia,  and  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  of  the  same,  do  here 
by  make  knowji  to  all  men,  that,  having  by  right  of  conquest  taken 
possession  of  that  territory  known  by  the  name  of  Upper  and 
Lower  California,  do  now  declare  it  to  be  a  Territory  of  the  United 
States,  under  the  name  of  the  Territory  of  California. 

"  And  I  do  by  these  presents  further  order  and  decree,  that  the 
government  of  the  said  Territory  of  California  shall  be,  until  al 
tered  by  the  proper  authority  of  the  United  States,  constituted  in 
manner  and  form  as  follows  ;  that  is  to  say : 

"  The  executive  power  and  authority  in  and  over  the  said  Ter 
ritory  shall  be  vested  in  a  governor,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for 
four  years,  unless  sooner  removed  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States.  The  governor  shall  reside  within  the  said  Territory  ;  shall 
be  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  thereof;  shall  perform  the 
duties  and  receive  the  emoluments  of  superintendent  of  Indian 
affairs,  and  shall  approve  of  all  laws  passed  by  the  legislative 
council  before  they  shall  take  effect.  He  may  grant  pardons  for 


124  FORM   OF  GOVERNMENT. 


offences  against  the  laws  of  the  said  Territory,  and  reprieves  for 
offences  against  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  until  the  decision 
of  the  President  can  be  made  known  thereon  :  he  shall  commis 
sion  all  officers  who  shall  be  appointed  to  office  under  the  laws  of 
the  said  Territory,  and  shall  take  care  that  the  laws  be  faithfully 
executed. 

"  There  shall  be  a  secretary  of  the  said  Territory,  who  shall  re 
side  therein,  and  hold  his  office  for  four  years,  unless  sooner  re 
moved  by  the  President  of  the  United  States.  He  shall  record 
and  preserve  all  the  laws  and  proceedings  of  the  legislative  coun 
cil  hereinafter  constituted,  and  all  the  acts  and  proceedings  of  the 
governor  in  his  executive  department.  He  shall  transmit  one 
copy  of  the  laws,  and  one  copy  of  the  executive  proceedings,  on 
or  before  the  first  Monday  in  December  in  each  year,  to  the  Pre 
sident  of  the  United  States ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  two  copies  of 
the  laws  to  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  for  the 
use  of  Congress.  And,  in  case  of  the  death,  removal,  resignation, 
or  necessary  absence  of  the  governor  from  the  Territory,  the  se 
cretary  shall  have,  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  and  required  to 
execute  and  perform  all  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  governor  dur 
ing  such  vacancy  or  necessary  absence. 

"  The  legislative  power  shall  be  vested  in  the  governor  and  le 
gislative  council.  The  legislative  council  shall  consist  of  seven 
persons,  who  shall  be  appointed  by  the  governor  for  two  years  ; 
after  which  they  shall  be  annually  elected  by  the  people. 

"The  power  of  the  legislative  council  of  the  Territory  shall 
extend  to  all  rightful  subjects  of  legislation ;  but  no  law  shall  be 
passed  interfering  with  the  primary  disposal  of  the  soil ;  no  tax 
shall  be  imposed  upon  the  property  of  the  United  States ;  nor  shall 
the  land  or  property  of  non-residents  be  taxed  higher  than  the 
lands  or  other  property  of  residents. 

"  All  the  laws  of  the  legislative  council  shall  be  submitted  to, 
and  if  disapproved  by  the  governor,  the  same  shall  be  null  and 
of  no  effect. 

"  The  municipal  officers  of  cities,  towns,  departments,  or  dis 
tricts,  heretofore  existing  in  the  Territory,  shall  continue  to  exist. 


FORM   OF   GOVERNMENT.  125 


and  all  their  proceedings  be  regulated  and  controlled  by  the  laws 
of  Mexico,  until  otherwise  provided  for  by  the  governor  and  legis 
lative  council. 

"All  officers  of  cities,  towns,  departments,  or  districts,  shall  be 
elected  every  year  by  the  people,  in  such  a  manner  as  may  be 
provided  by  the  governor  and  legislative  council. 

"The  legislative  council  of  the  Territory  of  California  shall 
hold  its  first  session  at  such  time  and  place  in  said  territory  as  the 
governor  thereof  shall  appoint  and  direct ;  and  at  said  session,  or 
as  soon  thereafter  as  may  by  them  be  deemed  expedient,  the 
said  governor  and  legislative  council  shall  proceed  to  locate  and 
establish  the  seat  of  government  for  said  territory,  at  -such  place 
as  they  may  deem  eligible  ;  which  place,  however,  shall  thereafter 
be  subject  to  be  changed  by  the  said  governor  and  legislative  coun 
cil,  and  the  time  and  place  of  the  annual  commencement  of  the 
session  of  the  said  legislative  council  thereafter  shall  be  on  such 
day  and  place  as  the  governor  and  council  may  appoint." 

On  the  15th  of  August,  1846,  Com.  Stockton  adopted  a  tariff  of 
duties  on  all  goods  imported  from  foreign  ports  of  fifteen  per  cent, 
ad  valorem,  and  a  tonnage  duty  of  fifty  cents  per  ton  on  all  foreign 
vessels. 

On  the  22d  of  August,  the  elections  were  ordered  to  be  held  on 
the  15th  of  the  following  month,  when  Walter  Colton,  Esq.,  the 
chaplain  of  the  frigate  Congress,  was  declared  duly  elected  Al 
calde  of  Monterey.  There  were  seven  competitors  for  this  office, 
and  338  votes,  out  of  which  Mr.  Colton  received  sixty-eight.  In 
San  Juan,  Mathew  Felon  was  elected  alcalde,  and  the  councillors 
chosen  were  Messrs.  Hartnall,  Spence,  Dias,  &c. 

Meanwhile,  Messrs.  Colton  and  Semple  had  established  a  news 
paper,  and  on  the  5th  of  August  was  published  the  first  number 
of  "  The  Californian." 

In  this  situation  of  affairs  was  issued  the  following  order: — 

CTJIDAD  DE  tos  ANGELES,  August  24,  1846. 

SIR  : — By  the  Mexican  newspapers,  I  see  that  war  has  been 
declared  both  by  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  and  the  most 

L2 


126        COL.  FREMONT  MADE  GOVERNOR. 

vigorous  measures  have  been  adopted  by  Congress  to  carry  it  to  a 
speedy  conclusion. 

Privateers  will,  no  doubt  be  fitted  out  to  prey  upon  our  com 
merce  ;  and  the  immense  value  of  that  commerce  in  the  Pacific 
ocean,  and  the  number  of  valuable  men  engaged  in  it,  require 
immediately  all  the  protection  that  can  be  given  to  them  by  the 
ships  under  my  command. 

I  must,  therefore,  withdraw  my  forces  from  California  as  soon 
as  it  can  be  safely  done,  and  as  soon  as  you  can  enlist  men  enough 
to  garrison  this  city,  Monterey,  San  Francisco,  Santa  Barbara,  and 
San  Diego,  and  to  have  a  sufficient  force  besides  to  watch  the 
Indians  and  other  enemies. 

For  these  purposes,  you  are  authorized  and  required  to  increase 
your  present  force  to  300  men. 

Fifty  for  San  Francisco,  fifty  for  Monterey,  twenty-five  for  Santa 
Barbara,  fifty  for  this  city,  and  twenty-five  for  San  Diego,  and  100 
to  be  kept  together,  with  whom,  those  in  the  several  garrisons 
can,  at  a  short  notice,  be  called  upon  at  any  time,  in  case  of  neces 
sity,  to  act. 

I  propose,  before  I  leave  the  territory,  to  appoint  you  to  be  the 
governor,  and  Captain  Gillespie  the  secretary  thereof;  and  to  ap 
point  also  the  council  of  state,  and  all  the  necessary  officers. 

You  will,  therefore,  proceed  without  delay  to  do  all  you  can  to 
further  my  views  and  intentions  thus  frankly  manifested.  Sup 
posing  that  by  the  25th  of  October,  you  will  have  accomplished 
your  part  of  these  preparations,  I  will  meet  you  at  San  Francisco 
on  that  day,  to  complete  the  whole  arrangement,  and  to  place  you 
as  governor  over  California. 

You  will  dispose  of  your  present  force  in  the  following  man 
ner,  which  may  be  hereafter  altered  as  occasion  may  require : — 

Capt.  Gillespie  to  be  stationed  at  this  city,  with  fifty  men  and 
officers  in  the  neighbourhood  ;  twenty-five  men,  with  an  officer,  at 
Santa  Barbara ;  fifty  men  and  officers  at  Monterey,  and  fifty  at 
San  Francisco. 

If  this  be  done  at  once,  I  can,  at  any  time,  safely  withdraw  my 
forces  as  I  proceed  up  the  coast  to  San  Francisco,  and  be  ready, 


INSURRECTION   OF  THE  INHABITANTS.  127 


after  our  meeting,  on  the  25th  of  October,  to  leave  the  desk  and 
the  camp,  and  take  to  the  ship  and  to  the  sea. 

Faithfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

R.  F.  STOCKTON, 
Commander-in-chief,  and  Governor  of  the 
To  MAJOR  FREMONT,  Territory  of  California. 

California  Battalion,  Cuidad  de  los  Angeles. 

At  all  the  points  occupied,  defensive  works  were  being  erected, 
particularly  at  Monterey  and  San  Francisco.  At  Yerba  Buena, 
settlers  were  establishing  themselves,  and  all  things  wore  the  as 
pect  of  a  prosperous  settlement. 

On  the  28th  of  August,  Com.  Stockton  and  Col.  Fremont  were 
at  Los  Angeles,  whence,  early  in  September,  Col.  Fremont  went 
north  with  only  forty  men,  intending  to  recruit  and  return  imme 
diately.  Com.  Stockton  withdrew  all  his  forces  and  proceeded 
with  the  squadron  to  San  Francisco. 

Capt.  Gillespie  was  left  in  command  of  the  Pueblo  de  los  An 
geles,  with  about  thirty  riflemen,  and  Lieut.  Talbot  in  command  at 
Santa  Barbara,  with  only  nine  men. 

Scarcely  had  Com.  Stockton  arrived  at  San  Francisco,  when  he 
received  information  that  all  the  country  below  Monterey  was  in 
arms,  and  the  Mexican  flag  again  hoisted. 

Our  limits  do  not  permit  of  other  than  a  brief  sketch  of  this 
contest.  Briefly,  the  Californians  rebelled  and  invested,  on  the 
23d  of  September,  the  "City  of  the  Angels,"  where  Capt.  Gilles 
pie,  finding  himself  and  his  very  few  men  overpowered  by  full 
300  Californians,  capitulated  on  the  30th  following.  He  thence 
retired  with  all  the  foreigners,  aboard  the  sloop  of  war,  &c.,  lying 
at  San  Pedro,  and  sailed  to  Monterey. 

Manual  Gaspar  then  marched  to  Santa  Barbara,  and  summoned 
Lieut.  Talbot  to  surrender ;  this  he  refused,  but  marched  out  with 
his  nine  men,  arms  in  hand.  (As  belonging  to  Col.  Fremont's 
command,  Lieut.  Talbot  is  deservedly  mentioned  in  another 
chapter.) 

Com.  Stockton  sent  down,  from  San  Francisco,  the  frigate  Sa- 


128  CALIFORNIANS  DEFEATED. 

vannah  to  relieve  the  Pueblo  de  los  Angeles,  but  she  arrived  a 
few  days  after  the  above  events.  Our  eager  tars  lost  no  time, 
however,  and  her  crew,  numbering  320  men,  were  landed  to 
march  to  Los  Angeles.  They  met  the  Californians  on  a  plain 
near  Domingo's  Rancho— about  half-way  from  San  Pedro  and  Los 
Angeles — distant  about  fifteen  miles  from  the  ship.  The  enemy, 
mounted  on  fine  horses  and  with  artillery,  had  every  advantage 
over  our  brave  sailors,  who,  on  foot,  and  with  small  arms 
alone,  were  forced  to  retreat  with  the  loss  of  five  killed,  and  six 
wounded. 

Com.  Stockton  himself  came  down  in  the  Congress  to  San 
Pedro,  whence  he  took  up  his  march  for  the  "City  of  the  An 
gels,"  dragging  up,  by  hand,  six  of  the  ship's  guns,  (for  the  Cali 
fornians  had  driven  off  every  animal.)  At  the  Rancho  Sepulvida, 
they  met  a  large  force  of  the  enemy ;  when,  sending  100  men  in 
advance  to  receive  the  fire  of  the  Californians,  and  to  fall  back  on 
the  main  body  without  returning  it,  Com.  Stockton  thus  decoyed 
the  enemy  close  up  to  the  main  body,  formed  in  a  triangle,  with 
the  guns  hid  by  the  men,  and  loaded  with  grape  and  canister, 
when  the  wings  were  extended,  and  a  most  deadly  fire  opened,  by 
which  more  than  100  were  killed,  and  more  than  that  number 
wounded,  and  the  enemy  routed,  leaving  about  100  prisoners, 
many  of  whom,  thus  captured,  were  at  the  time  on  parol,  and  had 
before  ^signed  an  obligation  not  to  take  up  arms  during  the  war. 
Their  subsequent  disposition  will  be  seen  elsewhere. 

As  rapidly  as  possible,  Com.  Stockton  mounted  his  men  and 
organized  his  forces  for  operations  on  shore.  All  the  horses  were 
thus  taken  by  one  party  or  the  other  from  the  purposes  of  agricul 
ture  ;  in  fact,  the  emigrants  were  all  more  or  less  enrolled  and  en 
gaged  in  the  contest  which  was  waged  in  series  of  skirmishes 
until  January,  1847,  when  the  war  was  put  an  end  to  by  a  deci 
sive  action. 

Of  the  efficient  and  gallant  co-operation  of  Col.  Fremont  in 
almost  all  these,  and  other  important  events,  we  have  had  to  tell 
elsewhere. 

Meanwhile,  individual  feats  of  gallantry,  a  characteristic  cou- 


SETTLEMENT   OF  THE  EMIGRANTS.  129 

rage,  activity,  and  ardour,  strongly  marked  all  the  operations  of 
our  sailors  in  their  novel  position  ashore. 

The  fleet  had  cruised  actively  along  the  whole  western  coast  of 
Mexico,  blockading  all  her  ports.  Guayamas  had  been  taken  by 
bombardment.  Commander  Dupont,  in  the  Cyane,  had  taken  four 
teen  prizes,  &c.,  and  had  captured,  at  San  Bias,  many  guns. 
Lieut.  Radford,  in  command  of  the  boats  of  the  Warren,  had  gal 
lantly  cut  out  of  the  harbour  of  Mazatlan,  the  Mexican  vessel  of 
war  Malek-Abdel,  and  various  other  achievements  had  signalized 
their  efficiency. 

Busy  settlements  were  being  formed  by  emigrants,  of  whom 
numbers  arrived,  and  who,  marching  in  arms  through  the  country, 
acquired,  at  least,  a  knowledge  of  its  real  value  and  resources. 

On  the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  several  towns  were  located. 
Yerba  Buena,  in  rivalry  with  Monterey,  was  rapidly  becoming  an 
important  place  ;  lots,  squares,  &c.,  were  laid  out,  and  a  newspaper 
established  by  the  leader  of  the  Mormon  emigrants,  S.  Brannon, 
Esq.,  entitled  "  The  California  Star." 

It  is  to  be  remembered  that  our  gallant  tars  carried  on  this  con 
test  up  to  this  time,  almost  entirely  without  the  means  of  transpor 
tation,  whereby  they  could  "  meet  the  enemy,"  while  the  Cali- 
fornians  were  mounted  on  fine  horses,  and  the  best  riders  in  the 
world,  and  could  thus  choose  their  own  time,  place,  and  distance 
of  attack. 

This  warfare  was  kept  up,  principally,  south  of  Monterey,  and 
continued  until  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Kearny,  when  the  brilliant 
events  which  led  to  the  final  conquest  of  California  took  place,  and 
are  thus  described  by  Com.  Stockton : 

HEAD-atTARTERS,  CuiDAD  DE  LOS  ANGELES, 

January  11,  1847. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  that  it  has  pleased  God  to 
crown  our  poor  efforts  to  put  down  the  rebellion,  and  to  retrieve  the 
credit  of  our  arms,  with  the  most  complete  success.  The  insur 
gents  determined,  with  their  whole  force,  to  meet  us  on  our  march 
from  San  Diego  to  this  place,  and  to  decide  the  fate  of  the  territory 
by  a  general  battle. 

9 


130  BATTLE   OF  SAN   GABRIEL. 


Having  made  the  best  preparation  I  could,  in  the  face  of  a  boast 
ing  and  vigilant  enemy,  we  left  San  Diego  on  the  29th  day  of  De 
cember,  (that  portion  of  the  insurgent  army  who  had  been  watch 
ing  and  annoying  us,  having  left  to  join  the  main  body,)  with  about 
six  hundred  fighting  men,  composed  of  detachments  from  the  ships 
Congress,  Savannah,  Portsmouth,  and  Cyane,  aided  by  Gen.  Kearny, 
with  a  detachment  of  sixty  men  on  foot,  from  the  First  Regi 
ment  of  United  States  Dragoons,  and  by  Capt.  Gillespie,  with  sixty 
mounted  riflemen. 

We  marched  nearly  one  hundred  and  forty  miles  in  ten  days, 
and  found  the  rebels,  on  the  8th  day  of  January,  in  a  strong  posi 
tion,  on  the  high  bank  of  the  "  Rio  San  Gabriel,"  with  six  hun 
dred  mounted  men  and  four  pieces  of  artillery,  prepared  to  dispute 
our  passage  across  the  river. 

We  waded  through  the  water  dragging  our  guns  after  us  against 
the  galling  fire  of  the  enemy,  without  exchanging  a  shot  until  we 
reached  the  opposite  shore,  when  the  fight  became  general,  and 
our  troops  having  repelled  a  charge  of  the  enemy,  charged  up 
the  bank  in  a  most  gallant  manner,  and  gained  a  complete  victory 
over  the  insurgent  army. 

The  next  day,  on  our  march  across  the  plains  of  the  "  Mesa"  to 
this  place,  the  insurgents  made  another  desperate  effort  to  save  the 
capital  and  their  own  necks ;  they  were  concealed  with  their  artil 
lery  in  a  ravine  until  we  came  within  gun-shot,  when  they  opened 
a  brisk  fire  from  their  field-pieces  on  our  right  flank,  and  at  the  same 
time  charged  both  on  our  front  and  rear.  We  soon  silenced  their 
guns,  and  repelled  the  charge,  when  they  fled,  and  permitted  us  the 
next  morning  to  march  into  town  without  any  further  opposition. 

We  have  rescued  the  country  from  the  hands  of  the  insurgents, 
but  I  fear  that  the  absence  of  Col.  Fremont's  battalion  of  mounted 
riflemen  will  enable  most  of  the  Mexican  officers,  who  have  broken 
their  parole,  to  escape  to  Sonora. 

I  am  happy  to  say  that  our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  does  not 
exceed  twenty,  whilst  we  are  informed  that  the  enemy  has  lost 
between  seventy  and  eighty. 

This  despatch  must  go  immediately,  and  I  will  wait  another 


GEN.   FLORES'   LETTER.  131 


opportunity  to  furnish  you  with  the  details  of  these  two  battles, 
and  the  gallant  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  under  my  com 
mand,  with  their  names. 

Faithfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

R.  F.  STOCKTON,  Commodore,  #c. 
To  the  Hon.  GEORGE  BANCROFT, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 
P.  S.  Enclosed  I  have  the  honour  to  send  to  you  a  translation  of 
the  letter  handed  to  me  by  the  commissioners  mentioned  in  another 
part  of  this  despatch,  sent  by  Jose  Ma.  Flores,  to  negotiate  peace 
honourable  to  both  nations.  The  verbal  answer,  stated  in  another 
page  of  this  letter,  was  sent  to  this  renowned  general  and  com- 
mander-in-chief.  He  had  violated  his  honour,  and  I  would  not 
treat  with  him  nor  write  to  him. 

Gen.  Flores'  letter  is  here  given  : 

[Translation.] 
Civil  and  Military  government  of  the  department  of  California. 

The  undersigned,  governor  and  commandant-general  of  the 
department  and  commander-in-chief  of  the  national  troops,  has  the 
honour  to  address  himself  to  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  naval 
and  land  forces  of  the  United  States  of  North  America,  to  say  that 
he  has  been  informed  by  persons  worthy  of  credit,  that  it  is  proba 
ble  at  this  time  the  differences  which  have  altered  the  relations  of 
friendship  between  the  Mexican  republic  and  that  of  the  United 
States  of  North  America  have  ceased,  and  that  you  looked  for  the 
news  of  the  arrangement  between  the  two  governments  by  the 
schooner  Shark,  expected  every  moment  on  this  coast. 

A  number  of  days  have  elapsed  since  the  undersigned  was  invited 
by  several  foreign  gentlemen  settled  in  the  country,  to  enter  into  a 
communication  with  you,  they  acting  as  mediators,  to  obtain  an 
honourable  adjustment  for  both  forces,  in  consequence  of  the  evils 
which  all  feel  are  caused  by  the  unjust  war  you  wage  ;  but  the 
duty  of  the  undersigned  prohibited  him  from  doing  so,  and  ;f  to-day 
he  steps  beyond  the  limits  marked  out  by  it,  it  is  with  the  confi 
dence  inspired  by  the  hope  there  exists  a  definitive  arrangement 


132  PROPOSALS  FOR  PEACE. 


between  the  two  nations  ;  for  the  undersigned  being  animated  with 
the  strongest  wishes  for  the  return  of  peace,  it  would  be  most  pain 
ful  to  him  not  to  have  taken  the  means  to  avoid  the  useless  effu 
sion  of  human  blood  and  its  terrible  consequences,  during  moments 
when  the  general  peace  might  have  been  secured. 

The  undersigned  flatters  himself  with  this  hope,  and  for  that 
reason  has  thought  it  opportune  to  direct  to  you  this  note,  which 
will  be  placed  in  your  hands  by  Messrs.  Julian  Workman  and 
Charles  Fluge,  who  have  voluntarily  offered  themselves  to  act  as 
mediators.  But  if,  unfortunately,  the  mentioned  news  should  prove 
untrue,  and  you  should  not  be  disposed  to  grant  a  truce,  to  the 
evils  under  which  this  unfortunate  country  suffers,  of  which  you 
alone  are  the  cause,  may  the  terrible  consequences  of  your  want 
of  consideration  fall  on  your  head.  The  citizens,  all  of  whom 
compose  the  national  forces  of  this  department,  are  decided  firmly 
to  bury  themselves  under  the  ruins  of  their  country,  combating  to 
the  last  moment  before  consenting  to  the  tyranny  and  ominous 
discretionary  power  of  the  agents  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States  of  North  America. 

This  is  no  problem ;  different  deeds  of  arms  prove  that  they 
know  how  to  defend  their  rights  on  the  field  of  battle. 

The  undersigned  still  confides  you  will  give  a  satisfactory  solu 
tion  to  this  affair,  and  in  the  mean  time  has  the  honour  of  offering 
to  you  the  assurance  of  his  consideration  and  private  esteem. 

God  and  Liberty  !  JOSE  MA.  FLORES. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  AT  THE  ANGELES,  Jan.  1,  1847. 

General  Order. 
HEAD-Q.UAIITEHS,  CUIDAD  DE  LOS  ANGELES, 

Jan.  11,  1847. 

The  commander-in-chief  congratulates  the  officers  and  men  of 
the  southern  division  of  the  United  States  forces  in  California  on 
the  brilliant  victories  obtained  by  them  over  the  enemy  on  the  8th 
and  9th  inst.,  and  on  once  more  taking  possession  of  the  "Cuidad 
de  los  Angeles." 

He  takes  the  earliest  moment  to  commend  their  gallantry  and 


JOSE  MA.  FLORES.  133 

good  conduct  both  in  the  battle  fought  on  the  8th,  on  the  banks  of 
the  "Rio  San  Gabriel,"  and  on  the  9th  inst.  on  the  plains  of  the 
"Mesa." 

The  steady  courage  of  the  troops  in  forcing  their  passage  across 
the  "Rio  San  Gabriel,"  where  officers  and  men  were  alike  em 
ployed  in  dragging  the  guns  through  the  water  against  the  galling 
fire  of  the  enemy,  without  exchanging  a  shot,  and  their  gallant 
charge  up  the  banks  against  the  enemy's  cavalry,  has  perhaps 
never  been  surpassed ;  and  the  cool  determination  with  which,  in 
the  battle  of  the  9th,  they  repulsed  the  charge  of  cavalry  made  by 
the  enemy  at  the  same  time  on  their  front  and  rear,  has  extorted 
the  admiration  of  the  enemy,  and  deserves  the  best  thanks  of  their 
countrymen.  R.  F.  STOCKTON, 

Governor  and  Commander-in-chief  of  the  territory  of  California. 

On  the  14th,  Col.  Fremont  had  arrived,  and  Com.  Stockton 
wrote  as  follows  : 

HEAD-Q.UAHTEIIS,  CuiDAi)  BE  LOS  ANGELES,  Jan.  15,  1847 
SIR  :  Referring  to  my  letter  of  the  llth,  I  have  the  honour  to 
inform  you  of  the  arrival  of  Lieutenant-colonel  Fremont  at  this 
place,  with  400  men — that  some  of  the  insurgents  have  made  their 
escape  to  Sonora,  and  that  the  rest  have  surrendered  to  our  arms. 
Immediately  after  the  battles  of  the  8th  and  9th,  they  began  to 
disperse  ;  and  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  their  leader,  Jose  Ma.  Flores, 
made  his  escape,  and  that  the  others  have  been  pardoned  by  a 
capitulation  agreed  upon  by  Lieutenant-colonel  Fremont. 

Jose  Ma.  Flores,  the  commander  of  the  insurgent  forces,  two  or 
three  days  previous  to  the  8th,  sent  two  commissioners  with  a  flag 
of  truce  to  my  camp,  to  make  "a  treaty  of  peace."  I  informed 
the  commissioners  that  I  could  not  recognise  Jose  Ma.  Flores,  who 
had  broken  his  parole,  as  an  honourable  man,  or  as  one  having  any 
rightful  authority,  or  worthy  to  be  treated  with — that  he  was  a 
rebel  in  arms,  and  if  I  caught  him  I  would  have  him  shot.  It 
seems  that  not  being  able  to  negotiate  with  me,  and  having  lost 
the  battles  of  the  8th  and  9th,  they  met  Col.  Fremont  on  the  12th 
M 


134  CAPITULATES  TO  COL.  FREMONT. 

instant,  on  his  way  here,  who,  not  knowing  what  had  occurred,  he 
entered  into  the  capitulation  with  them,  which  I  now  send  to  you; 
and,  although  I  refused  to  do  it  myself,  still  I  have  thought  it  best 
to  approve  it. 

The  territory  of  California  is  again  tranquil,  and  the  civil  go 
vernment  formed  by  me  is  again  in  operation  in  the  places  where 
it  was  interrupted  by  the  insurgents. 

Col.  Fremont  has  500  men  in  his  battalion,  which  will  be  quite 
sufficient  to  preserve  the  peace  of  the  territory ;  and  I  will  im 
mediately  withdraw  my  sailors  and  marines,  and  sail  as  soon  as 
possible  for  the  coast  of  Mexico,  where  I  hope  they  will  give  a 
good  account  of  themselves, 

Faithfully,  your  obedient  servant,       R.  F.  STOCKTON, 

Commodore,  <$-c. 

To  the  Hon.  GEORGE  BANCROFT, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 

A  more  detailed  narrative  of  Col.  Fremont's  action  in  the  matter 
of  the  capitulation  given  below,  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  which 
separately  relates  his  gallant  enterprises. 

To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  greeting  : 

Know  ye  that,  in  consequence  of  propositions  of  peace  or  cessa 
tion  of  hostilities  being  submitted  to  me  as  commandant  of  the 
California  battalion  of  United  States  forces,  which  has  so  far  been 
acceded  to  by  me,  as  to  cause  me  to  appoint  a  board  of  commis 
sioners  to  consult  with  a  similar  board  appointed  by  the  Califor- 
nians  ;  and  it  requiring  a  little  time  to  close  the  negotiations,  it  is 
agreed  upon  and  ordered  by  me,  that  an  entire  cessation  of  hostili 
ties  shall  take  place  until  to-morrow  afternoon,  (January  13th,) 
and  that  the  said  Californians  be  permitted  to  bring  in  their 
wounded  to  the  mission  of  San  Fernandez,  where  also,  if  they 
choose,  they  can  remove  their  camp,  to  facilitate  said  negotiations. 
Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  this  12th  day  of  January,  1847. 

J.  C.  FREMONT, 
Lieut.  Col.  U.  S.  A.,  and  Military  Commandant,  California. 


ARTICLES   OF  CAPITULATION.  135 

The  Capitulation. 

Articles  of  capitulation  made  and  entered  into  at  the  Ranch  of 
Cowanga,  this  thirteenth  day  of  January,  anno  Domini  eighteen 
hundred  and  forty-seven,  between  P.  B.-  Reading,  major,  Louis 
McLane,  jr.,  commanding  artillery,  Wm.  H.  Russell,  ordinance 
officer,  commissioners  appointed  by  J.  C.  Fremont,  lieutenant- 
colonel  United  States  army,  and  military  commandant  of  the 
Territory  of  California,  and  Jose  Antonio  Carrillo,  commandant 
Esquadron,  Agustine  Olvera,  deputado,  commissioners  appointed 
by  Don  Andres  Pico,  commander-in-chief  of  the  Californian  forces 
under  the  Mexican  flag : 

Art.  1.  The  commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  Californians  agree 
that  their  entire  force  shall,  on  presentation  of  themselves  to  Lieut. 
Col.  Fremont,  deliver  up  their  artillery  and  public  arms,  and  that 
they  shall  return  peaceably  to  their  homes,  conforming  to  the  laws 
and  regulations  of  the  United  States,  and  not  again  take  up  arms 
during  the  war  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  but  will 
assist  and  aid  in  placing  the  country  in  a  state  of  peace  and  tran 
quillity. 

Art.  2.  The  commissioners  on  the  part  of  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont 
agree  and  bind  themselves  on  the  fulfilment  of  the  1st  article  by 
the  Californians,  that  they  shall  be  guarantied  protection  of  life 
and  property  whether  on  parol  or  otherwise. 

Art.  3.  That  until  a  treaty  of  peace  be  made  and  signed  be 
tween  the  United  States  of  North  America  and  the  republic  of 
Mexico,  no  Californian  or  other  Mexican  citizen  shall  be  bound  to 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance. 

Art.  4.  That  any  Californian  or  other  citizen  of  Mexico  desiring, 
is  permitted  by  this  capitulation  to  leave  the  country  without  let  or 
hindrance. 

Art.  5.  That  in  virtue  of  the  aforesaid  articles,  equal  rights 
and  privileges  are  vouchsafed  to  every  citizen  of  California  as  are 
enjoyed  by  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  of  North  America. 

Art.  6.  All  officers,  citizens,  foreigners,  or  others,  shall  receive 
the  protection  guarantied  by  the  2d  article. 


136  ARTICLES   OF  CAPITULATION. 


Art.  7.  This  capitulation  is  intended  to  be  no  bar  in  effecting 
such  arrangements  as  may  in  future  be  in  justice  required  by  both 
parties. 

P.  B.  READING, 

Major  California  Battalion. 
WM.  H.  RUSSELL, 

Ord.  officer  of  California  Bat. 
LOUIS  McLANE,  Jr.      V'-' 
CommcTg  Art.,  California  Bat. 
JOSE  ANTO.  CARRILLO, 

Commandants  de  Escuadron. 
AGUSTINE  OLVERA, 

Deputado. 
Approved:  J.  C.  FREMONT, 

Lt.  Col.  U.  S.  A.,  and  Ml.  Com.  of  California. 
Aprobado:  ANDRES  PICO, 

Com.  de  Escuadron  en  gefe  de  lasfuerzas  nacionales 
en  Californias. 

Additional  Article. 

That  the  paroles  of  all  officers,  citizens,  and  others  of  the 
United  States,  and  of  naturalized  citizens  of  Mexico,  are  by  this 
foregoing  capitulation  cancelled,  and  every  condition  of  said 
paroles  from  and  after  this  date  are  of  no  farther  force  and  effect, 
and  all  prisoners  of  both  parties  are  hereby  released. 
CUIDAD  DE  LOS  ANGELES,  Jan.  16,  1847. 

P.  B.  READING, 

Major  California  Battalion. 
LOUIS  McLANE,  Jr. 
Commd'g  Art.  California  Bat. 
WM.  H.  RUSSELL, 

Ord.  officer  of  California  Bat. 
JOSE  ANTO.  CARRILLO, 

Commandante  de  Escuadron. 
AGUSTINE  OLVERA, 

Deputado. 


GENERAL   ORDERS   OF  COM.  SHUBRICK.  137 

Approved:  J.  C.  FREMONT, 

Lt.  Col.  U.  S.  A.,  and  Mil.  Com.  of  California. 
Aprobado:  ANDRES  PICO. 

Com.  de  Escuadron  en  gefe  de  lasfuerzas  nacionales 
en  Californias. 

It  was  here,  at  the  meeting  of  Com.  Stockton  and  Gen.  Kearny, 
and  of  Fremont,  that  misunderstandings  as  to  prerogatives  arose. 

Gen.  Flores  fled  to  Sonora,  with  some  of  his  officers,  and  vio 
lent  measures  were  not  used  towards  the  rest. 

On  the  23d  of  January,  1847,  the  Independence,  Com.  W.  B. 
Shubrick,  arrived  at  Monterey,  when,*  in  virtue  of  his  rank,  he 
took  command  of  all  the  naval  forces,  and  on  the  1st  of  February 
issued  the  following  "  general  order :" 

"  The  commander-in-chief  has  great  satisfaction  in  announcing 
to  the  inhabitants  of  Monterey,  that  from  information  received  from 
various  sources,  he  has  reason  to  believe  that  the  disorders  which 
have  recently  disturbed  the  territory  of  California  are  at  an  end, 
and  that  peace  and  security  are  restored  to  this  district  certainly, 
and  he  hopes  to  the  whole  territory. 

"  The  improved  state  of  affairs  in  the  district,  and  the  arrival  of 
a  company  of  United  States  artillery  under  Capt.  Tompkins,  has 
enabled  the  commander-in-chief  to  dispense  with  the  services  of 
the  company  of  mounted  volunteers,  under  Lieut.  Maddox  of  the 
marine  corps.  The  patriotic  settlers  who  composed  this  company, 
nobly  stepped  forward  in  time  of  danger,  and  stood  between  the 
flag  of  the  United  States,  and  the  defenceless  women  and  children 
of  Monterey  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  bands  of  lawless  disturbers 
of  the  peace  on  the  other. 

"  For  such  disinterested  conduct,  the  company  of  mounted  vo 
lunteers,  under  Lieut.  Maddox,  of  the  marine  corps,  (acting  as 
captain,)  is  tendered  the  thanks  of  the  commander-in-chief,  and 
will,  without  doubt,  receive  commendation  and  due  recompense 
from  the  general  government. 


*  Appendix,  No.  12. 
M  2 


138  GENERAL  ORDERS   OF  COM.  SHUBRICK. 

"  Given  on  board  the  United  States  ship  Independence,  Harbour 
of  Monterey, 

"W.  BRANDFORD  SHUBRICK, 

Commander-in-chief. ' ' 
February  1,  1847. 

The  Lexington,  loaded  with  twenty-four-pounders,  mortars,  &c., 
had  arrived,  and  three  other  transports,  with  Col.  Stevenson's  regi 
ment,  were  shortly  expected,  at  the  time  of  this  order. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  the  United  States  sloop  of  war,  Cyane, 
arrived  in  port,  and  fired  the  appropriate  salute  for  Com.  Shubrick, 
and,  Gen.  Kearny  being  on  board,  the  Cyane  received  a  salute 
from  the  Independence. 

On  the  llth,  the  following  was  issued : 
General  Order. 

To  all  whom  it  may  concern  : — The  undersigned,  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  naval  forces  of  the  United  States  in  the  Pacific 
ocean,  in  virtue  of  the  authority  vested  in  him  by  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  and  taking  into  consideration  the  injury 
caused  to  the  agricultural  pursuits  of  the  inhabitants  of  California, 
by  the  late  unsettled  state  of  the  country,  the  great  demand  at 
present  for  all  articles  of  provisions,  and  the  probable  increase  of 
that  demand,  directs  that  for  the  space  of  six  months  from  the  first 
of  March  next,  viz. :  from  the  1st  of  said  month  of  March,  to  the 
1st  of  the  month  of  September  next,  the  following  articles  of  pro 
visions  shall  be  admitted  into  the  ports  of  California,  free  of  all 
charge  of  duty,  viz.  :  beef,  pork,  bread,  flour,  butter,  cheese,  sugar 
and  rice. 

Done,  &c.,  llth  of  February,  1847. 

W.  BRANDFORD  SHUBRICK, 

Commander-in-chief. 

About  the  1st  of  March,  1847,  Com.  Biddle  arrived  in  the 
United  States  frigate  Columbus,  from  the  China  seas,  and  became, 
in  virtue  of  his  rank,  commander-in-chief. 

The  squadron  had,  as  before,  been  actively  engaged  in  enforcing 
rigid  blockades.  The  Portsmouth  had  been  employed  in  taking 


DIVISION   OF  AUTHORITY.  139 

possession  of  the  towns  in  Lower  California,  on  the  Gulf,  but  at  no 
place  was  there  the  means  of  making  resistance  to  our  flag. 

On  the  arrival  of  Com.  Biddle,  it  became  known  that  Com.  Shu- 
brick  would  retain  command  of  the  northern  Pacific  squadron, 
and  Com.  Biddle  to  come  home  in  July,  and  that  Gen.  Kearny 
would  become  the  governor  of  California. 

The  assignment  of  their  respective  duties  will  be  seen  by  the 
following  joint  announcement : — 

General  Order. 

To  all  whom  it  may  concern,  be  it  known — That  the  Pre 
sident  of  the  United  States,  desirous  to  give  and  secure  to  the 
people  of  California  a  share  of  the  good  government  and  happy 
civil  organization  enjoyed  by  the  people  of  the  United  States, 
and  to  protect  them  at  the  same  time  from  the  attacks  of  fo 
reign  foes,  and  from  internal  commotions,  has  invested  the  un 
dersigned  with  separate  and  distinct  powers,  civil  and  military ;  a 
cordial  co-operation  in  the  exercise  of  which,  it  is  hoped  and  be 
lieved,  will  have  the  happy  results  desired. 

To  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  naval  forces,  the  President 
has  assigned  the  regulation  of  the  import  trade,  with  conditions  on 
which  vessels  of  all  nations  (our  own  as  well  as  foreign)  may  be 
admitted  into  the  ports  of  the  territory,  and  the  establishment  of 
all  port  regulations. 

To  the  commanding  military  officer,  the  President  has  assigned 
the  direction  of  the  operations  on  land,  and  has  invested  him  with 
administrative  functions  of  government  over  the  people  and  terri 
tory  occupied  by  the  forces  of  the  United  States. 

Done  at  Monterey,  capital  of  California,  this  1st  day  of  March, 
A.  D.  1847. 

W.  BRANDFORD  SHUBRICK, 
Commander-in-chief  of  the  Naval  Forces. 

S.  W.  KEARNY, 
Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.  and  Governor  of  California. 

Monterey  was  fixed  upon  by  Gen.  Kearny  and  Com.,Shubrick 
as  the  temporary  seat  of  government. 


140  SEC.  MASON'S  INSTRUCTIONS. 

On  the  19th  of  Dec.  1846,  John  Y.  Mason,  then  Secretary  of 
the  Navy,  wrote  as  follows  : — 

"  In  my  despatch  of  November  5th  last,  Com.  Stockton  was  re 
quired  to  relinquish  the  conduct  of  operations  on  land,  and  the 
control  of  such  measures  of  civil  government  as  the  military  occu 
pation  of  the  country  conquered  might  devolve  on  the  conqueror, 
until  a  definitive  treaty  of  peace  should  settle  the  right  of  posses 
sion  to  the  officer  in  command  of  the  land  forces  of  the  United 
States,  who,  in  company  with  the  bearer  of  my  despatch,  proceeded 
to  the  west  coast  to  assume  the  command. 

"  There  has  been  no  approval  or  recognition  of  any  organized 
or  established  form  of  civil  government  for  the  Californias,  or  any 
other  Mexican  territory  in  the  occupation  of  the  naval  forces, 
through  this  department.  The  instructions  have  been  confined  to 
the  acknowledged  rights,  under  the  laws  of  nations,  resulting  from 
conquest  and  occupation;  and  the  corresponding  duties  which  the 
conqueror  owed  temporarily  to  the  inhabitants  have  been  performed 
in  a  spirit  of  kindness  and  conciliation,  and  in  the  only  particulars 
embraced  by  the  instructions  from  this  department,  of  liberality 
to  the  commercial  interests  of  citizens  of  the  United  States  and 
of  neutrals." 

Col.  Richard  B.  Mason,  of  the  First  regiment  of  Dragoons,  was 
the  officer  alluded  to.  It  will  be  seen  in  another  chapter,  that  he 
left  the  seat  of  government  on  the  7th  of  November,  1846,  for 
Upper  California,  by  way  of  Chagres  and  Panama.  On  the  1st 
of  June,  1847,  he  was  acting  as  "governor  and  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  land  forces  in  California,  at  Monterey;"  Gen.  Kearny 
having  left  that  place  on  the  31st  preceding,  for  the  United  States, 
reached  Washington  city,  after  a  short  visit  to  his  family  at  St. 
Louis,  on  the  10th  of  September,  1847. 

Col.  Fremont  accompanied  Gen.  Kearny  as  far  as  Fort  Leaven- 
worth.  Com.  Stockton  was  to  leave  California  for  the  United 
States,  about  the  17th  of  July,  and  Com.  Ap.  C.  Jones  relieves 
Com.  Shubrick. 

Our  flag  again,  by  the  united  efforts-  of  our  soldiers  and  of  our 
sailors,  now  covers  the  "farthest  west,"  from  32  to  49  degrees  of 


THE  UNITED  SERVICE.  141 

north  latitude ;  and  if  there  has  been  any  differences  among  com 
manders  as  to  rank  and  command,  it  is  idle  (and  certainly  no  part 
of  the  plan  of  this  compilation)  to  discuss  the  glory  of  this  or  that 
branch  of  the  service — or  of  this  or  that  commanding  officer.  To 
use  the  language  of  the  official  organ  of  the  government — "  They 
have  all  been  distinguished — our  troops  and  our  sailors  have  all 
proved  themselves,  in  whatever  position  they  were  placed,  worthy 
of  upholding  the  eagles  of  the  republic." 


142  CAPT.   JOHN   C.  FREMONT. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

Unexpected  and  gallant  movement — J.  Charles  Fremont — Scientific  explora 
tion — Gen.  Castro  threatens — American  flag  hoisted — United  States  Consul, 
T.  O.  Larkin,  Esq. — Correspondence — Fremont's  note — Withdraws — The 
country  raised — Attacked  by  Tlamath  Indians — Determination — Capture  of 
Castro's  horses — Sonoma  surprised  and  taken — Prisoners — Fights  de  la  Torre 
— Men  cut  to  pieces  alive — Mexicans  shot — Declaration  of  Independence  and 
War — Com.  Sloat — Pursues  Castro — Ordered  to  Monterey — Com.  Stockton 
in  command — Major  of  California  Mounted  Riflemen — Embarks  for  San 
Diego — Joins  Com.  Stockton's  forces — Occupation  of  "  City  of  the  Angels" — 
Again  pursues  Castro — Capt.  Gillespie — Com.  Stockton  appoints  Fremont 
Governor — Lieut.  Talbot — Com.  Stockton  officially  announces  the  capture 
of  California — Californians  revolt — Los  Angeles  and  Santa  Barbara  evacu 
ated — Fremont — March  on  Los  Angeles — Captures  and  pardons  Don  J.  Pico 
— Capitulation — Previous  Battles  of  Gen.  Kearny  and  Com.  Stockton — Com. 
Stockton's  Despatches — Meeting  of  Fremont,  Stockton  and  Kearny — Sepa 
rate — Fremont  Governor  and  Commander-in-chief— His  Circular — Kit  Car 
son — Interviews  with  Com.  Shubrick,  and  Gen.  Kearny — Adheres  to  his  posi 
tion — Fremont  returns  to  the  United  States. 

CONTEMPORANEOUS  with  the  military  combinations  already  de 
tailed,  a  movement,  as  remarkable  and  unexpected  as  prompt  and 
gallant,  mingled  with  the  concentration  of  forces  directed  against 
California,  and,  in  some  measure,  anticipated  their  results. 

There  was  a  young  and  talented  officer  of  United  States  Topo 
graphical  Engineers  who  had  served  as  principal  assistant,  before 
entering  the  army,  to  the  celebrated  Nicollet,  (pre-eminent  as  an 
astronomer,  mathematician  and  man  of  science,  and  whom  rivalry 
with  the  illustrious  Arago  had  driven  from  France  to  become  a 
citizen  of  the  United  States,)  in  his  explorations,  by  order  of  the 
government,  of  the  wild  west  and  Rocky  Mountains — who  had 
been  commissioned,  in  1838,  a  lieutenant  while  in  the  wilderness, 
thus  occupied,  and  suffering  the  utmost  hardships  and  privations, 
and  who,  when  this  country  and  the  scientific  world  sustained  a 
heavy  loss  by  the  death  of  Nicollet  in  1843,  had  been  deemed 
worthy  to  continue  these  important  explorations. 


OBJECT   OF  COL.  FREMONT'S  EXPLORATIONS.         143 

Young,  ambitious,  and,  though  not  robust  in  appearance,  yet 
of  vigorous  health,  John  Charles  Fremont  had,  in  command  of  two 
scientific  expeditions — to  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  1842,  and  to 
Oregon  and  North  California  in  1843-4 — accomplished  a  reputation 
seldom  acquired  at  his  years.  As  an  evidence  of  the  estimate 
which  the  government  had  placed  upon  his  services  and  labours, 
the  commission  of  brevet-captain  was  conferred  on  him  by  the 
President,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  thus 
advancing  him  two  grades  at  the  same  time — an  unusual  and  rare, 
but  deserved  compliment. 

Capt.  Fremont  (on  the  organization  of  the  Mounted  Rifle  Regi 
ment,  27th  May,  1846,  made  lieutenant-colonel  thereof)  once  more 
left  the  seat  of  government  to  pursue  his  explorations  in  the  regions 
beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  orders  of  the  War  Depart 
ment,  and  the  objects  of  this  service  were,  as  before,  of  a  scientific 
character,  without  any  view  whatever  to  military  occupation.  No 
officer  or  soldier  of  the  United  States  army  accompanied  him ;  and 
his  whole  force  consisted  of  62  men,  engaged  by  himself  as  security 
against  Indians,  and  to  procure  subsistence  in  the  wilderness 
through  which  he  was  to  pass.  One  of  the  objects  in  view  was  to 
discover  a  new  and  shorter  route  from  the  western  base  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  to  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  river.  This 
search  would  carry  him,  for  a  part  of  the  distance,  through  the 
unsettled,  and  afterwards  through  a  corner  of  the  settled  part  of 
California.  With  a  full  knowledge  of  the  political  as  well  as  the 
personal  difficulties  of  the  enterprise,  Capt.  Fremont's  private 
views  and  feelings  were  in  unison  with  his  ostensible  mission — the 
dominant  passion  of  his  soul  being  the  pursuit  of  science,  he  looked 
with  dread  and  aversion  upon  any  possible  collision  with  either 
[ndians,  Mexicans,  or  British. 

At  the  time  of  his  departure  from  the  United  States,  he  knew 
well  our  difficulties  with  Mexico  and  Great  Britain,  and  that  jea 
lousy  would  attach  to  his  movements  in  going  through  the  territo 
ries  of  the  one,  and  the  settlements  of  the  other ;  he  was  perfectly 
determined,  therefore,  to  use  the  utmost  circumspection  in  all  his 
conduct,  confining  himself  wholly  to  his  scientific  pursuits,  and 


144  THREATENINGS   OF   GOV.  CASTRO. 

carefully  avoiding  as  well  the  appearance  as  the  reality  of  either  a 
political  or  military  mission. 

He  approached  these  settlements  in  the  winter  of  1845-6,  and, 
that  he  might  give  no  cause  of  offence  to  the  authorities  of  Cali 
fornia,  with  commendable  and  pre-determined  prudence,  he  left 
his  men  upon  the  frontier,  a  hundred  miles  from  Monterey,  and 
went  alone  to  that  city  to  explain,  to  the  Commandant-general  of 
Upper  California,  Don  Jose  Castro,  his  objects  and  wishes  in  per 
son.  This  he  did  in  the  most  formal  and  respectful  manner,  in 
company  with  the  United  States  Consul,  T.  O.  Larkin,  Esq.,  and 
received  from  Gov.  Castro  leave  to  winter  in  the  valley  of  the  San 
Joaquin,  where  there  was  game  for  his  men,  and  grass  for  his 
horses ;  yet  scarcely  had  he  reached  the  spot  desired  for  refresh 
ment  and  repose,  before  he  received  information  from  the  American 
settlements,  and  by  expresses  from  the  United  States  Consul  at 
Monterey,  that  Gen.  Castro  was  preparing  to  attack  him  with  a 
comparatively  large  force  of  artillery,  cavalry  and  infantry,  upon 
the  pretext  that,  under  cover  of  a  scientific  mission,  he  was  exciting 
the  American  settlers  to  revolt.  In  view  of  this  danger,  and  to  be 
in  a  condition  to  repel  an  assault,  he  took  a  position  on  a  mountain 
overlooking  Monterey,  at  a  distance  of  about  thirty  miles,  intrenched 
it,  raised  the  flag  of  the  United  States,  and  with  his  own  men, 
sixty-two  in  number,  awaited  the  approach  of  the  commandant- 
general. 

Of  the  events  of  these  days,  no  official  despatches  from  Capt. 
Fremont  have  been  published,  yet  they  are  well  supplied  by  the 
official  communications  from  the  American  consul  at  Monterey,  to 
cur  Secretary  of  State,  and  by  Capt.  Fremont's  brief  note  to  the 
consul,  while  expecting  the  attack  of  Gov.  Castro. 

Of  these  our  limits  will  preclude  our  giving  but  a  portion.  On 
the  9th  of  March,  1846,  T.  O.  Larkin,  United  States  consul  at 
Monterey,  writes  the  Secretary  of  State :  **  In  the  month  of  Feb 
ruary,  Capt.  Fremont,  in  my  company,  visited  the  general,  pre>- 
fecto,  and  alcalde  of  this  place,  and  informed  them  of  his  business ; 
and  there  was  no  objection  made.  Within  twenty  days,  the  gene 
ral  says  he  has  received  direct  and  specific  orders  from  Mexico 


CAPT.  FREMONT  ORDERED  OUT  OF  THE  COUNTRY.  145 

not  to  allow  Capt.  Fremont  to  enter  California ;  which,  perhaps, 
accounts  for  the  change  of  feelings  with  the  people." 

While  the  latest  and  most  graphic  are  the  following : 

CONSULATE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 

•  Monterey,  March  27,  1846. 

SIR: — Capt.  J.  C.  Fremont,  of  the  United  States  army,  arrived 
at  this  United  States  consular-house  in  Monterey,  on  the  27th  of 
January,  1846.  Being  very  anxious  to  join  his  party  of  fifty  men 
at  the  second  place  of  rendezvous,  without  the  settlement,  they 
having  missed  the  first  place  by  mistake,  he  remained  but  two 
days,  in  which  time,  with  myself,  he  visited  the  commandant- 
general,  prefecto,  alcalde,  and  Col.  Alvarado,  informing  them  that 
he  was  surveying  the  nearest  route  from  the  United  States  to  the 
Pacific  ocean.  This  information,  and  that  his  men  were  not  United 
States  soldiers,  was  also,  by  myself,  officially  given  to  the  prefecto. 
Having  obtained  funds  and  supplies  from  myself,  he  returned  to 
his  camp  ;  it  being  well  known  in  Monterey,  that  he  was  to  return 
when  he  collected  his  men.  Some  fifteen  or  twenty  days  after 
this,  Capt.  Fremont,  with  his  party,  encamped  at  a  vacant  rancho 
belonging  to  Capt.  Fisher,  (about  ninety  miles  from  here,)  to  re 
cruit  his  men  and  animals.  From  there,  he  proceeded  towards 
Santa  Cruz,  making  short  journeys.  On  the  3d  of  March,  he 
encamped  on  the  rancho  of  Mr.  E.  P.  Hartwell,  where  he  received 
letters  from  the  general  and  prefecto,  ordering  him  out  of  the 
country,  and  to  obey  the  order  without  any  pretext  whatever,  or 
immediate  measures  would  be  taken  to  compel  him  to  do  so.  This, 
not  corresponding  with  assurances  received  at  Monterey,  it  was 
not  answered,  and  he  gave  orders  to  hoist  the  United  States  flag 
the  next  morning  as  the  only  protection  his  men  was  to  look  to. 
From  the  7th  to  the  10th  of  March,  they  fortified  their  camp  with 
a  breastwork  of  logs.  Encamped  on  a  high  hill,  which  com 
manded  a  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  they  could  see  (with 
the  use  of  spy-glasses)  the  general  and  his  troops,  numbering 
about  two  hundred  men,  at  their  camp,  in  the  mission  of.St.  John's, 
preparing  their  cannon.  On  the  9th  instant,  I  sent  duplicate  let 
ters — one  by  an  American,  who  lost  his  papers,  and  the  other  by 
N  10 


146         CAPT.  FREMONT  LEAVES  HIS  ENCAMPMENT. 


a  Californian,  to  Capt.  Fremont,  informing  him  of  the  movements 
of  the  Californians.  The  California  courier  returned  to  the  consu 
late  in  about  nine  or  ten  hours,  bringing  a  letter  from  Capt.  Fre 
mont,  having  travelled  in  that  time  sixty  miles.  He  reported  being 
well  treated  by  Capt.  Fremont  and  his  men ;  and  that  two  thou 
sand  of  his  countrymen  would  not  be  sufficient  to  compel  him  to 
leave  the  country,  although  his  party  was  so  small.  At  the  earnest 
request  of  the  alcalde,  for  a  translation  of  Capt.  Fremont's  letter, 
it  was  given,  and  immediately  despatched  to  the  general  at  St. 
John's  ;  and  one  also  to  the  governor  of  the  Puebla  of  los  Angeles. 
The  general  informed  the  alcalde  on  the  night  of  the  10th  instant, 
that  Capt.  Fremont  had  left  his  encampment,  and  that  he  (the 
general)  should  pursue  and  attack  him  the  first  opportunity,  and 
chastise  him  for  hoisting  a  foreign  flag  in  California.  In  the  post 
script  of  the  same  letter,  the  general  stated  that  Capt.  Fremont 
had  crossed  a  small  river,  and  was  then  about  three  miles  distant 
from  them ;  but  the  general  made  no  preparation  to  follow  him. 
On  the  morning  of  the  llth,  Gen.  Castro  sent  John  Gilroy,  an 
Englishman,  long  resident  in  this  country,  to  make  offers  of  ar 
rangement  to  Capt.  Fremont.  On  his  arrival  at  the  camp-ground, 
he  found  Capt.  Fremont  had  left  with  his  party  that  morning ;  the 
camp  fires  were  still  burning.  He  found  in  the  camp  the  staff 
used  for  the  flag,  tent  poles,  (cut  on  the  spot,)  some  old  clothes, 
and  two  old  and  useless  pack-saddles,  which  the  Californians  have 
magnified  into  munitions  of  war.  Gen.  Castro  informed  his  party 
that  he  had  received  various  messages  from  the  camp  of  Capt. 
Fremont,  threatening  to  exterminate  the  Californians,  &c.,  (but 
will  hardly  name  his  messengers,  nor  did  they  put  any  confidence 
in  it  themselves.)  From  the  llth  to  the  13th,  the  natives  had  re 
turned  to  their  respective  homes,  to  resume  their  customary  occu 
pations.  A  few  people  that  were  ordered  to  march  from  San 
Francisco  to  join  the  general  at  his  camp,  returned  to  their  homes. 
On  the  12th,  a  proclamation  was  put  up  by  the  general,  in  the 
billiard-room,  (not  the  usual  place,)  informing  the  inhabitants  that 
a  band  of  highwaymen,  ("  bandoleros")  under  Capt.  Fremont,  of 
the  United  States  army,  had  come  within  the  towns  of  this  depart- 


CHARGES  AGAINST  HIS  MEN.  147 

merit ;  and  that  he,  with  two  hundred  patriots,  had  driven  them 
out,  and  sent  them  into  the  back  country.  "  Some  of  the  officers 
of  the  two  hundred  patriots  (and  more  were  expected  to  join  them) 
arrived  in  Monterey,  and  reported  that  the  cowards  had  run,  and 
that  they  had  driven  them  to  the  Sacramento  river ;  some  added 
that  they  drove  them  into  the  bulrushes,  on  the  plains  of  the  Sa 
cramento  ;  and  that,  in  their  haste,  they  had  left  some  of  their  best 
horses  behind.  The  horses  proved  to  be  those  belonging  to  the 
Californians  themselves,  and  had  strayed  into  Capt.  Fremont's 
band,  (being  an  e very-day  occurrence  in  California  ;)  and,  on  rais 
ing  camp,  they  were  turned  out  and  left  behind.  Instead  of  the 
Americans  being  driven  out  of  the  country,  they  travelled  less 
distance,  for  three  or  four  days,  than  the  natives  did  in  returning 
to  Monterey — moving  from  four  to  six  miles  per  day,  in  order  to 
recruit.  One  of  the  complaints  made  by  the*  general  was,  that 
three  men,  when  drinking,  went  to  the  house  of  Angel  Castro  (an 
uncle  of  the  general)  to  purchase  some  beef  for  the  camp,  and 
insulted  his  family.  On  the /7th,  I  personally  called  upon  Don 
Angel,  for  the  truth  of  the  story,  and  was  informed  by  him  (the 
father  himself)  that  he  was  frightened  by  one  of  the  Americans 
insisting  on  his  daughter  drinking  with  him.  On  ordering  him  to 
leave  the  house,  he  resisted,  but  was  put  out  by  his  own  compa 
nions,  he  drawing  a  pistol  while  they  were  putting  him  out.  Don 
Angel  mounted  a  horse,  and  rode  off  to  Capt.  Fremont's,  about 
one  mile  distant,  who,  on  hearing  the  case,  came  to  the  house  im 
mediately,  and  called  up  the  family  to  inquire  into  the  affair.  On 
the  examination,  he  asked  the  father  what  he  should  do  with  the 
men.  He  requested  them  to  be  punished,  which  was  promised  ; 
and  was  told,  if  he  would  send  a  boy,  a  fine  of  five  dollars  should 
be  sent  to  him,  (he  being  alcalde.)  The  boy  returned  with  ten 
dollars  from  the  camp,  which  settled  the  business,  although  there 
had  been  nothing  of  consequence  transacted ;  yet  Capt.  Fremont 
was  anxious  not  to  let  the  people  of  the  country  have  any  cause 
of  complaint  against  him. 

The  undersigned  has  the  honour  to  subscribe  himself,  your  most 
obedient  servant,  THOMAS  O.  LARKIN. 

To  the  Hon.  SECRETARY  OF  STATE,  City  of  Washington. 


148  PACIFIC  CONDUCT  OF  CAPT.  FREMONT. 


CONSULATE    Or    THE    UNITED    STATES    OF    AMERICA, 

Monterey,  Jpril  2,  1846. 

SIR:  In  giving  my  first  information  to  the  department  respect 
ing  Capt.  Fremont's  arrival  in  California,!  did  not  anticipate  such 
an  extensive  correspondence  as  it  has  now  reached.  Capt.  Fre 
mont  was  well  received  in  this  place,  and  to  the  last  day  we  heard 
of  him,  by  the  natives  individually,  who  sold  him  provisions,  and 
liked  his  presence.  During  his  encampment,  thirty  or  forty  miles 
from  here,  despatches  were  received  by  the  commandant,  Gen. 
Jose  Castro,  (a  native  of  Monterey,)  from  Mexico,  ordering  him  to 
drive  Capt.  Fremont  out  of  this  department ;  which  order,  with 
one  hundred  and  seventy  or  two  hundred  men  present,  and  over 
one  hundred  more  daily  expected,  he  pretended  to  execute.  Capt. 
Fremont  left  his  camp  a  few  hours  after  he  received  the  under 
signed's  letter  of  "the  9th  of  March,  (not  from  fright  of  Gen.  Cas 
tro,)  as  he  had  been  preparing  the  week  before  to  travel.  It  is 
supposed  he  has  gone  to  St.  Barbara,  where  an  American  was 
sent  by  the  undersigned,  in  February,  with  funds  and  provisions 
for  his  use.  From  there  he  proceeds  on  his  journey,  according  to 
his  instructions  from  his  department  in  Washington.  Although 
from  the  correspondence  it  may  appear  that  in  the  centre  of  a  strange 
country,  among  a  whole  people,  with  real  or  apparent  hostile  in 
tentions  towards  him,  Capt.  Fremont  was  in  much  danger,  it  can 
be  believed  that  he  was  only  annoyed.  Whether  he  will  visit 
Monterey,  after  this  unexpected  affair,  or  not,  is  uncertain. 

The  undersigned  has  not  supposed,  during  the  whole  affair,  that 
Gen.  Castro  wished  to  go  after  Capt.  Fremont ;  and  was  very  con 
fident  that,  with  all  California,  he  would  not  have  attacked  him, 
even  had  he  been  sure  of  destroying  the  whole  party,  as  five  times 
their  number  could  have  taken  their  place  before  the  expected 
battle.  Capt.  Fremont  received  verbal  applications  from  English 
and  Americans  to  join  his  party,  and  could  have  mustered  as  many 
men  as  the  natives.  He  was  careful  not  to  do  so.  Although  he 
discharged  five  or  six  of  his  men,  he  took  no  others  in  their  place. 
On  the  return  of  Gen.  Castro,  he  published  a  flaming  proclamation 
to  the  citizens,  informing  them  that  a  band  of  bandoleros,  (high- 


OBSERVATIONS  OF  MR.  LARKIN.  149 


waymen  or  freebooters,)  under  Capt.  Fremont  of  the  United  States 
army,  had  come  into  this  district ;  but  with  the  company  of  two 
hundred  patriots  he  had  driven  them  away,  and  exhorted  his  com 
panions  and  countrymen  to  be  always  ready  to  repel  others  of  the 
same  class.  This  proclamation  was  missing  from  the  place  where 
it  was  put  up  on  the  third  day. 

The  undersigned  has  written  to  the  general  for  a  copy.  To  this 
day  there  has  been  no  answer  received.  Duplicate  copies  of  con 
sular  letters  to  Capt.  Fremont,  are  in  the  hands  of  Gen.  Castro,  he 
having  taken  them  from  one  of  the  consular's  couriers,  promising 
to  forward  them  as  directed.  These  copies  he  promised  to  return, 
but  has  not  done  so.  This  government  is  about  sending  a  com 
missioner  to  Mexico,  (as  the  undersigned  believes,)  to  report  the 
country  in  danger  of  revolution  from  the  Americans.  By  this  we 
understand  in  California,  (foreigners,)  that  some  Americans  (who 
left  Capt.  Fremont)  are  joining  the  Indians  to  attack  the  farms,  and 
others  were  about  to  take  possession  of  a  town  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  bay  of  San  Francisco ;  and  that  Sen.  W.  Hastings  (author 
of  the  History  of  California)  is  laying  off  a  town  at  New  Helvetia, 
for  the  Mormons.  None  of  this  information,  (in  the  opinion  of  the 
undersigned  can  be  relied  upon,)  is  to  be  given  to  the  President  to 
urge  upon  him  the  necessity  of  giving  Gen.  Castro  two  hundred 
men,  (he  prefers  not  many  men,  nor  any  Mexican  general,)  with 
sufficient  funds  to  protect  the  country.  As  a  general  thing,  Has- 
tings's  book  is  very  untrue  and  absurd.  He  brought  a  number  to 
this  country,  which  do  his  countrymen  no  good,  and  perhaps  injure 
them.  No  general  English  reader  will  read  one  quarter  of  the 
book.  The  arrival  of  Capt.  Fremont  has  revived  the  excitement 
in  California  respecting  the  emigration,  and  the  fears  of  the  Cali- 
fornians  losing  their  country.  The  undersigned  believes  that  if  a 
new  flag  was  respectfully  planted,  it  would  receive  the  good  will 
of  much  of  the  wealth  and  respectability  of  the  country.  Those 
who  live  by  office,  and  the  absence  of  law,  would  faintly  struggle 
against  a  change.  Many  natives  and  foreigners  of  wealth  and  pur 
suits,  are  already  calculating  on  the  hopes,  fears,  and  expectations 

N  9 


150          WHY   CAPT.  FREMONT  FORTIFIED  HIS  CAMP. 

from  the  apparent  coming  change  now  before  them,  from  the  great 
influx  of  strangers. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  undersigned  has  the  pleasure  of  saying 
that,  with  every  department  of  office  in  this  country,  he  is  on  the 
best  terms  of  friendship,  as  far  as  appearances  are  before  him. 
With  the  highest  respect  and  esteem, 

I  am  your  obedient  servant, 

THOMAS  O.  LARKIN. 
To  the  Hon.  SECRETARY  OF  STATE,  City  of  Washington. 

It  will  be  seen,  in  Gov.  Castro's  despatch,  that  Capt.  Fremont 
took  a  military  position,  intrenched  it,  and  raised  the  American 
flag ;  but  these  events  were  the  consequence  and  not  the  cause  of 
Gov.  Castro's  movement  against  him  ;  and  this  is  fully  shown  in 
the  following  brief  spirited  note,  written  in  pencil,  in  answer  to 
the  consul's  warning,  and  after  refusing  the  aid  of  the  American 
settlers : 

Note  in  pencil  from  Capt.  Fremont  to  the  consul  Larkin,from  his 

intrenched  camp  at  the  Jllisal  on  the  Sierra,  thirty  miles  from 

Monterey,  March  10,  1846. 

MY  DEAR  SIR:  I  this  moment  received  your  letters, and  without 
waiting  to  read  them,  acknowledge  the  receipt  which  the  courier 
requires  immediately.  I  am  making  myself  as  strong  as  possible, 
in  the  intention  that  if  we  are  unjustly  attacked  we  will  fight  to 
extremity  and  refuse  quarter,  trusting  to  our  country  to  avenge  our 
death.  No  one  has  reached  our  camp,  and  from  the  heights  we 
are  able  to  see  troops  (with  the  glass)  mustering  at  St.  John's  and 
preparing  cannon.  I  thank  you  for  your  kindness  and  good  wishes, 
and  would  write  more  at  length  as  to  my  intentions,  did  I  not  fear 
that  my  letter  would  be  intercepted.  We  have  in  no  wise  done 
wrong  to  the  people  or  the  authorities  of  the  country,  and  if  we 
are  hemmed  in  and  assaulted  here,  we  will  die,  every  man  of  us, 
under  the  flag  of  our  country. 

Very  truly,  yours, 

J.  C.  FREMONT. 

P.  S.   I  am  encamped  on  the  top  of  the  Sierra,  at  the  head- 


WITHDRAWS  FROM   CALIFORNIA.  151 


waters  of  a  stream  which  strikes  the  road  to  Monterey,  at  the  house 
of  Don  Joaquin  Gomez.  J.  C.  F. 

THOMAS  O.  LARKIN,  Esq., 

Consul  for  the  United  States,  Monterey. 

"The  first  letter"  (and  all  the  detail  the  public  yet  have)  "that 
we  (says  Senator  Benton)  received  from  Capt.  Fremont,  after  his 
withdrawal  from  the  Sierra,  and  from  the  valley  of  the  San  Juan, 
is  dated  the  first  day  of  April,  in  latitude  40,  on  the  Sacramento 
river ;  and  though  written  merely  to  inform  Mrs.  Fremont  of  his 
personal  concerns,  becomes  important  in  a  public  point  of  view  on 
account  of  subsequent  events  in  June  and  July,  by  showing  that 
on  the  first  of  April  he  was  on  his  way  to  Oregon — that  he  had 
abandoned  all  intention  of  returning  through  any  part  of  California 
— would  cross  the  Rocky  Mountains  through  the  Northern  Pass, 
on  the  line  between  the  Upper,  or  Kettle  Falls  of  the  Columbia, 
and  the  Great  Falls  of  the  Missouri — and  be  in  the  United  States 
in  September.  This  shows  that  he  had,  at  that  time,  no  idea  of 
the  events  in  which  he  was  subsequently  involved,  and  that  he  had 
abandoned  the  cherished  field  of  his  intended  scientific  researches 
for  the  express  purpose  of  avoiding  all  offence  to  the  Mexican 
authorities.  Of  the  events  in  the  valley  of  the  San  Joaquin  and 
the  camp  on  the  Sierra,  he  speaks  a  few  words,  without  detail,  but 
descriptive  of  his  condition,  characteristic  of  his  prudence  in  not 
compromising  his  country,  and  worthy  to  be  repeated  in  his  own 
language.  He  says :  '  The  Spaniards  were  somewhat  rude  and 
inhospitable  below,  and  ordered  me  out  of  the  country  after  having 
given  me  permission  to  winter  there.  My  sense  of  duty  did  not 
permit  me  to  fight  them,  but  we  retired  slowly  and  growlingly 
before  a  force  of  three  or  four  hundred  men,  and  three  pieces  of 
artillery.  Without  the  shadow  of  a  cause,  the  governor  suddenly 
raised  the  whole  country  against  me,  issuing  a  false  and  scandalous 
proclamation.  Of  course,  I  did  not  dare  to  compromise  the  United 
States,  against  which  appearances  would  have  been  strong ;  but 
though  it  was  in  my  power  to  increase  my  party  by  Americans,  I 
refrained  from  committing  a  solitary  act  of  hostility  or  impropriety.' 


152  ATTACK  BY  TLAMATH  INDIANS. 


His  next  letter  is  dated  the  14th  of  May,  and  informs  me  that,  in 
his  progress  to  Oregon,  he  found  himself  and  party  unexpectedly 
attacked  by  the  Tlamath  Indians — the  most  warlike  of  that  quar 
ter — had  lost  five  men  in  killed  and  wounded — and  still  expected 
to  be  in  the  United  States  in  the  month  of  September." 

All  the  information  in  continuance  of  the  narrative,  is  contained 
in  a  letter  from  Capt.  Fremont  to  Senator  Benton,  dated  "Mission 
of  Carmel,  July  25,  1846."  (The  Mission  of  Carmel  is  three 
miles  south  of  Monterey,  Upper  California.)  The  substance  is 
given  by  Senator  Benton,  thus : — 

"At  the  middle  of  May,  Capt.  Fremont,  in  pursuance  of  his 
design  to  reach  Oregon,  and  return  by  the  Columbia  and  Missouri 
through  the  Northern  Pass  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  had  arrived 
at  the  great  Tlamath  Lake,  in  the  edge  of  the  Oregon  Territory, 
when  he  found  his  further  progress  completely  barred  by  the 
double  obstacle  of  hostile  Indians,  which  Castro  had  excited 
against  him,  and  the  lofty  mountains,  covered  with  deep  and  fall 
ing  snows,  which  made  the  middle  of  May  in  that  elevated  region 
the  same  as  the  middle  of  winter.  These  were  the  difficulties 
and  dangers  in  front.  Behind,  and  on  the  north  bank  of  the  San 
Francisco  Bay,  at  the  military  post  of  Sonoma,  was  Gen.  Castro 
assembling  troops  with  the  avowed  intention  of  attacking  both 
Fremont's  party,  and  all  the  American  settlers,  against  whom  the 
Indians  had  been  already  excited.  Thus,  his  passage  barred  in 
front  by  impassable  snows  and  mountains — hemmed  in  by  savage 
Indians,  who  were  thinning  the  ranks  of  his  little  party — menaced 
by  a  general  at  the  head  of  tenfold  forces  of  all  arms — the  Ame 
rican  settlers  in  California  marked  out  for  destruction  on  a  false 
accusation  of  meditating  a  revolt  under  his  instigation — his  men 
and  horses  suffering  from  fatigue,  cold,  and  famine — and  after  the 
most  anxious  deliberation  upon  all  the  dangers  of  his  position,  and 
upon  all  the  responsibilities  of  his  conduct,  Capt.  Fremont  deter 
mined  to  turn  upon  his  pursuers  and  fight  them  instantly,  without 
regard  to  numbers,  and  seek  safety  for  his  party  and  the  Ameri 
can  settlers,  by  overturning  the  Mexican  government  in  California. 
It  was  on  the  6th  day  of  June  that  he  came  to  this  determination ; 


CAPTURES  CASTRO'S  HORSES.  153 

and,  the  resolution  being  once  taken,  all  half-way  measures  were 
discarded,  and  a  rapid  execution  of  the  plan  was  commenced.  On 
the  llth  of  June,  a  supply  of  200  horses  for  Castro's  troops  on 
the  way  to  his  camp,  conducted  by  an  officer  and  fourteen  men, 
were  surprised  at  daylight,  and  the  whole  captured — the  men  and 
officer  being  released*  and  the  horses  retained  for  American  use. 
On  the  15th,  at  daybreak,  the  military  post  of  Sonoma,  (the  point 
of  rendezvous,  and  intended  head-quarters)  was  surprised  and 
taken,  with  nine  pieces  of  brass  cannon,  250  stand  of  muskets,  other 
arms  and  ammunition,  with  several  superior  officers,  Gen.  Vallejo, 
(Val-ya-ho,)  his  brother, Capt.  Vallejo,  Col.  Greuxdon,  and  others; 
all  of  whom  were  detained  and  confined  as  prisoners.  Capt. 
Fremont  then  repaired  to  the  American  settlements  on  the  Rio  de 
los  Americanos  to  obtain  assistance;  and  receiving  an  express 
from  his  little  garrison  of  fourteen,  in  Sonoma,  that  Gen.  Castro 
was  preparing  to  cross  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  and  attack  him 
with  a  large  force,  he  set  out  in  the  afternoon  of  the  23d  of  June, 
with  ninety  mounted  riflemen,  and,  travelling  day  and  night,  ar 
rived  at  2  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  25th,  at  Sonoma — eighty 
miles'  distance.  The  vanguard  of  Castro's  force  had  crossed  the 
bay — a  squadron  of  seventy  dragoons,  commanded  by  De  la 
Torre — which  was  attacked  and  defeated  by  twenty  Americans, 
with  a  loss  of  two  killed  and  some  wounded  on  the  part  of  the 
Mexicans,  and  no  injury  to  themselves — De  la  Torre  barely  escap 
ing,  with  the  loss  of  his  transport  boats,  and  spiking  six  pieces  of 
artillery.  In  the  mean  time,  two  of  Capt.  Fremont's  men,  going 
as  an  .express,  were  captured  by  De  la  Torre's  men,  and,  being 
bound  to'  trees,  were  cut  to  pieces,  alive,  with  knives !  in  return 
for  which,  three  of  De  la  Torre's  men  being  taken  were  instantly 
shot.  The  north  side  of  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco  was  now 
cleared  of  the  enemy,  and  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  Capt.  Fremont 
called  the  Americans  together  at  Sonoma,  addressed  them  upon 
the  dangers  of  their  situation,  and  recommended  a  declaration  of 
independence,  and  war  upon  Castro  and  his  troops,  as  the  only 
means  of  safety.  The  independence  was  immediately  declared, 
and  the  war  proclaimed.  A  few  days  afterwards,  an  officer  from 


154  PURSUES  GEN.  CASTRO. 

Com.  Sloat  brought  intelligence  that  the  American  flag  was  hoisted 
at  Monterey — an  example  which  was  immediately  followed  wher 
ever  the  news  flew.  The  pursuit  and  defeat  of  Castro  was  then 
the  only  remaining  enterprise.  He  had  fled  south,  towards  the 
numerous  Mexican  towns  and  settlements  beyond  Monterey,  with 
his  four  or  five  hundred  men ;  and  Capt.  Fremont,  leaving  some 
fifty  men  in  garrisons,  set  out  with  160  mounted  riflemen  in  the  pur 
suit,  when  he  received  instructions  from  Com.  Sloat  to  march  upon 
Monterey.  He  did  so,  and  found  Com.  Stockton  in  command, 
approving  the  pursuit  of  Castro,  and  aiding  it  by  all  the  means  in 
his  power.  The  sloop  of  war  Cyane  was  put  at  his  service. 
Capt.  Fremont,  with  160  American  •  riflemen  and  70  marines, 
embarked  on  that  vessel,  and  sailed  down  the  coast,  on  the  26th 
of  July,  to  San  Diego,  400  miles  south  of  Monterey,  and  100 
south  of  Pueblo  de  los  Angeles,  where  Castro  was  understood  to 
be,  with  an  increasing  force  of  500  men.  The  descent  of  the 
coast  as  far  as  San  Diego  was  with  a  view  to  get  ahead  of  Castro, 
and  to  be  in  a  position  either  to  intercept  him  if  he  fled  south 
to  Mexico,  or  to  Lower  California,  or  to  turn  back  upon  him  if  he 
remained  in  Pueblo  de  los  Angeles,  or  any  of  the  numerous  towns 
in  its  neighbourhood." 

Com.  Sloat  had  assigned  the  command  of  the  Pacific  squadron 
to  Com.  R.  F.  Stockton,  about  the  19th  of  July,  1846.  On  the 
day  that  the  latter  took  the  command  as  "Commander-in-chief,  and 
Governor  of  the  Territory  of  California,"  he  organized  the  "Cali 
fornia  Mounted  Riflemen,"  with  the  men  whom  Fremont  had 
brought,  and  received  them  as  Volunteers  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  appointing  Capt.  Fremont  major,  and  Lieut.  Gil- 
lespie,  of  the  Marine  Corps,  captain  of  the  battalion. 

The  orders  under  which  Capt.  Fremont  embarked  for  San 
Diego  were  as  follows : — 

UNITED  STATES  FRIGATE  CONGRESS, 
Monterey  Bay,  July  23,  1846. 

SIR  :  You  will  please  to  embark  on  board  the  United  States  ship 
Cyane,  with  the  detachment  of  troops  under  your  command,  on 
Saturday  afternoon. 


OCCUPATION   OF  THE  CITY  OF  THE  ANGELS.         155 

The  ship,  at  daylight,  on  Sunday  morning,  will  sail  for  San 
iDiego,  where  you  will  disembark  your  troops  and  procure  horses 
for  them,  and  will  make  every  necessary  preparation  to  march 
'through  the  country  at  a  moment's  notice  from  me. 

You  will  endeavour  to  encamp  so  near  San  Diego  as  to  have  a 
idaily  communication  with  the  Cyane,  which  will  remain  at  anchor 
there  until  you  receive  orders  to  march. 

The  object  of  this  movement  is  to  take,  or  get  between  the 
Colorado  and  Gen.  Castro. 

I  will  leave  Monterey  in  this  ship  for  San  Pedro,  so  as  to  ar 
rive  there  about  the  time  that  you  may  be  expected  to  have  arrived 
at  San  Diego. 

I  will  despatch  a  courier  to  you  from  San  Pedro,  to  inform  you 
of  my  movements. 

Faithfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

R.  F.  STOCKTON, 

Captain  FREMONT,  Commodore,  fyc. 

United  States  Army. 

On  the  29th  he  arrived  at  San  Diego,  where  he  was  detained 
by  the  difficulty  of  finding  horses,  the  Californians  having  driven 
off,  and  secreted,  as  far  as  possible,  all  their  animals.  Thus 
Capt.  Fremont  was  unable  to  move  until  the  8th  of  August,  when 
he  started  in  pursuit  of  Castro  who  had  fled  from  Com.  Stockton's 
forces  at  the  "Camp  of  the  Mesa."  On  the  13th  both  com 
manders  united  their  forces  and  entered  the  City  of  the  Angels, 
of  which  they  took  unmolested  possession. 

On  the  16th,  Fremont  again  set  off  in  pursuit  of  Castro,  who  it 
soon  was  found  had  succeeded  in  making  his  escape  out  of  the 
country,  his  principal  officers  separating  in  different  parties. 
These  were  most  of  them  taken,  and  brought  to  the  "City  of  the 
Angels,"  whither  Fremont  returned  by  the  28th. 

Early  in  September,  1846,  Com.  Stockton,  having  determined 
to  keep  the  California  battalion  of  mounted  riflemen  in  the  service 
of  the  territory,  and  constantly  on  duty  to  prevent  and  punish  any 
aggressions  of  the  Indians,  or  any  other  persons,  upon  the  property 


156  CAPT.   GILLESPIE  EVACUATES  THE  CITY. 

of  individuals  or  the  peace  of  the  territory,  withdrew  all  his  forces 
and  proceeded  with  the  squadron  to  San  Francisco.  Captain 
GilJespie  was  left  in  command  of  the  "City  of  the  Angels"  with 
about  thirty  riflemen. 

Fremont  left  the  city,  for  the  purpose  of  recruiting  his  forces 
as  fully  instructed  by  the  order  already  given  on  page  125. 

Fremont  had  but  forty  men  with  him ;  of  these  he  left  nine  with 
Lieut.  Talbot  to  garrison  Santa  Barbara,  and  from  thence,  on  the 
16th,  continued  his  way  north. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  Com.  Stockton  had  announced  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Mr.  Bancroft,  that  the  war  was  ended,* 
through  his  letter  of  the  28th  of  August,  1846. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  the  Californians  invested  the  "  City 
of  the  Angels,"  and  on  the  30th  Capt.  Gillespie  was  forced  by 
overwhelming  numbers  to  capitulate  and  to  retire  to  San  Pedro, 
and  thence  to  embark  for  Monterey. 

Manuel  Caspar,  the  Californian  chief,  then  marched  on  San 
Barbara.  Here  was  stationed  a  young  officer,  Theodore  Talbot, 
(son  of  the  late  Isham  Talbot,  a  very  distinguished  senator  from 
Kentucky,)  and  who,  though  a  mere  boy,  had  won  the  entire  con 
fidence  and  esteem  of  Fremont,  whom  he  had  accompanied  in  his 
expeditions  for  scientific  purposes  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  Oregon 
and  California — and  they  had  "  some  rough,  ones,"  as  Lieut. 
Talbot  truly  says,  in  the  interesting  letter  which  well  describes 
the  incidents  at  Santa  Barbara,  and  affords  a  familiar  and  authentic 
insight  of  others. 

Extract  from  a  letter  of  Lieut.  Theodore  Talbot,  dated 

CITT  OF  THE  ANGELS,  CALIFORNIA, 

January  15,  1847. 

"Since  last  I  wrote  you  I  have  had  an  active  life.  Col.  Fremont 
left  the  City  of  the  Angels  in  September  under  command  of  Capt. 
A.  H.  Gillespie  with  thirty-odd  riflemen,  the  commodore  having 

•  See  his  letter,  Chapter  7. 


LIEUT.  TALBOT  IN   SANTA  BARBARA.  157 

entirely  withdrawn  his  forces  and  proceeded  with  his  squadron  to 
San  Francisco.  We  moved  to  the  north,  the  colonel  having  with 
him  only  some  forty  men,  (his  old  party,)  the  rest  of  the  force 
having  in  part  preceded  us,  and  part  been  disbanded,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  two  small  parties  stationed  south  of  the  City  of  the 
Angels.  I  was  left  as  military  commandant  of  the  town  and  juris 
diction  of  Santa  Barbara,  a  pretty  place  lying  on  the  ocean  one 
hundred  miles  north  of  the  City  of  the  Angels,  and  the  principal 
town  between  that  place  and  Monterey.  There  were  only  nine 
men  left  with  me,  it  being  the  colonel's  intention  to  recruit  at  the 
north,  and  return  immediately.  The  prefect,  the  principal  civil 
authority  of  the  southern  department,  resided  there,  and  I  was  left 
for  the  purpose  of  supporting  him.  My  position  was  a  very  plea 
sant  one ;  Santa  Barbara  being  the  residence  of  some  of  the  state 
liest  Dons  and  prettiest  Senoras  in  all  California.  I  had  been  here, 
however,  but  a  few  days  when  I  received  a  correo,  post-haste  from 
Capt.  Gillespie,  bringing  news  of  a  rebellion  in  the  south — the 
City  of  the  Angels  being  surrounded  by  500  of  the  Californians 
under  arms.  The  courier  had  barely  escaped  with  his  life,  and 
brought  me  Gillespie's  motto  seal,  concealed  in  a  cigarita,  to  vouch 
for  the  truth  of  what  he  told.  Having  warned  me,  he  hurried  on 
to  the  north,  to  give  this  news  to  the  colonel  and  commodore.  I 
spent  several  anxious  days — every  moment  expecting  to  be  attacked 
in  my  barracks;  hearing  only  through  the  women,  who,  noble  and 
disinterested  always  in  the  hour  of  need,  would  give  me  such  little 
information  as  they  could  obtain  with  regard  to  the  motions  of  the 
insurgents. 

*'  Here  let  me  remark,  that  nothing  has  surprised  me  so  much,  in 
my  little  intercourse  with  the  Mexicans,  as  the  humanity  and  charity 
of  the  women,  as  compared  with  the  almost  brutal  ferocity  of  the 
men.  Yon  will  recollect  that  Kendall  sustains  the  same  opinion 
with  reference  to  the  Santa  Fe  expedition. 

"  Although  my  position  was  very  precarious,  I  kept  a  firm  upper 
lip,  in  order  to  keep  down  the  people  of  Santa  Barbara,  which  has 
some  70  fighting  men,  and  several  resident  Mexican  officers,  until 
aid  could  be  received  from  the  north.  I  succeeded  in  this  until  the 


158  ADVENTURES   OF  LIEUT.  TALBOT. 


City  of  the  Angels  was  taken,  and  Gillespie  forced  to  capitulate. 
Manuel  Garpis,  the  commander,  then  marched  with  two  hundred 
men  on  Santa  Barbara.  They  surrounded  the  town,  and  sent  in  a 
letter  demanding  my  surrender,  and  guarantying  our  lives,  &c.,  &c. 
They  gave  us  two  hours  to  deliberate.  We  had  all  determined  not 
to  surrender  our  arms  ;  and,  finding  the  place  we  then  occupied 
untenable,  with  so  small  a  force,  we  determined  to  push  for  the 
hills,  (our  best  ground  for  fighting,)  or  die  in  the  attempt.  I  ac 
cordingly  marshalled  my  little  force  and  marched  out  of  the  town 
without  opposition — those  who  lay  on  the  road  retreating  to  the 
main  force  which  was  on  the  lower  side  of  the  town.  The  few 
foreigners  living  in  the  town  dared  not  assist  me ;  and  the  Cali- 
fornians,  all  of  course,  took  arms  against  us.  Having  so  unex 
pectedly  been  allowed  to  pass  their  force,  I  camped  in  the  hills 
overlooking  the  town,  and  determined  to  remain  there  a  few  days, 
and  co-operate  with  any  force  which  might  be  landed  at  Santa 
Barbara.  I  remained  here  eight  days,  when  the  Californians 
having  discovered  my  whereabouts,  finally  determined  to  rout  me 
out.  Not  knowing  my  exact  position,  they  had  divided  into  two 
or  three  parties ;  and  one  of  them,  consisting  of  some  forty  men, 
happened  to  strike  upon  the  very  spot  where  I  was.  I  was  aware 
of  their  coming,  and  had  given  my  men  orders  not  to  fire  until 
they  were  in  among  us.  But  my  men  were  so  eager  to  get  a  shot, 
that  two  of  them  who  were  posted  in  the  arroy,  or  ravine,  nearest 
the  enemy,  forgetting  my  instructions,  fired  just  as  they  came 
marching  in  on  us.  They  had  fired  too  far  for  their  own  shots 
even  to  be  effective,  killing  only  the  horse  of  one,  and  wounding 
the  horse  and  grazing  the  hip  of  another  of  the  enemy.  But  the 
Californians  fled,  nor  would  they  again  come  within  reach  of  our 
rifles,  pouring  a  fire  from  their  long  carbines  from  the  neighbouring 
hills.  They  sent  a  foreigner  to  me,  offering  to  allow  me  to  retain 
my  arms  and  freedom,  giving  my  parole  of  honour  not  to  interfere 
farther  in  the  war  about  to  be  waged. 

"I  sent  the  man  back  with  word  that  I  preferred  to  fight.  Find 
ing  I  would  not  give  up,  they  put  fire  in  all  round  me,  and  suc 
ceeded  in  burning  me  out.  I  eluded  them,  however,  and  after 


ADVENTURES   OF  LIEUT.  TALBOT.  159 


lingering  another  day,  in  hopes  that  a  force  would  arrive,  I  deter 
mined  to  push  for  Monterey.  I  came  down  on  a  rancho,  called 
San  Marco,  where  we  got  something  to  eat,  for  we  had  been 
starving  for  several  days.  We  were  also  so  fortunate  as  to  find 
an  old  soldier  of  Gen.  Micheltorena,  who  was  naturally  inimical 
to  the  Californians.  He  piloted  us  across  the  coast  mountain, 
which  is  here  ninety  miles  wide,  and  very  rugged,  into  the  head 
of  the  Tulare  valley  to  the  Lake  of  Buena  Vista.  Here  I  was 
familiar  with  the  country,  and  after  a  month's  travel,  coming  some 
500  miles,  mostly  afoot,  enduring  much  hardship  and  suffering, 
we  at  length  effected  a  junction  with  Col.  Fremont  at  Monterey. 

"  They  were  all  very  glad  to  see  us,  for  they  certainly  thought 
we  were  all  killed.  In  fact,  the  Californians  had  circulated  that 
report.  You  must  excuse  me  for  dwelling  on  my  little  adventure; 
for  the  fact  is,  I  suffered  more  from  downright  starvation,  cold, 
nakedness,  and  every  sort  of  privation,  than  in  any  trip  I  have  yet 
had  to  make,  and  I  have  had  some  rough  ones.  Col.  Fremont 
had  started  from  San  Francisco  in  the  ship  Sterling ;  but  after 
being  out  twenty  days,  and  much  bad  weather,  he  was  compelled 
to  put  into  Monterey.  I  found  him  recruiting  more  men  from  the 
new  emigrants,  and  preparing  to  go  by  land  to  the  south.  A  day 
or  two  after  I  arrived,  a  part  of  two  companies,  under  command 
of  Capts.  Burrows  and  Thompson,  were  attacked  by  the  Califor 
nians,  80  in  number,  the  Americans  having  57 ;  they  fought — 4 
Americans  were  killed,  and  3  Californians.  Capt.  Burrows  was 
among  the  killed.  "We  marched  to  their  assistance,  to  the  mission 
of  St.  John's,  from  which  place  they  were  afraid  to  move,  as  they 
had  a  cavallada  of  400  head  of  horses.  We  left  St.  John's  for  the 
south  the  26th  of  November,  and  arrived  at  San  Fernando  on  the 
llth  of  January. 

"This  place  is  twenty-five  miles  from  the  City  of  the  Angels, 
which  we  heard  the  commodore  and  Gen.  Kearny,  with  700  men, 
were  in  possession  of.  The  commander  of  the  Californians,  Don 
Andres  Pico,  finding  it  impolitic  to  wage  the  war  further,  sent  a 
deputation  of  his  officers  offering  to  surrender  to  Col.  Fremont. 
Their  surrender  was  accepted,  and  we  marched  into  the  city  the 


160  COL.  FREMONT'S  REGIMENT. 

14th  of  January.  The  volunteer  force  was  soon  disbanded,  and  I 
will  have  a  chance  of  returning  home,  I  hope." 

Col.  Fremont  had,  without  money  or  men,  and,  in  a  country 
where  the  first  was  not  to  be  seen,  and  the  latter,  few  and  widely 
scattered,  set  about  raising  in  the  north  a  force  sufficient  for  the 
occasion,  from  the  emigrants  and  strangers.  With  untiring  energy, 
and  in  a  very  short  time,  he  had  succeeded  in  organizing  about  450 
men,  well  mounted,  and  supplied  with  every  equipment  of  war, 
including  four  pieces  of  artillery.  The  troops  constituting  Col. 
Fremont's  command,  gathered  up  hastily  as  they  were,  and  from 
the  midst  of  a  population  so  few  and  scattered,  were  perhaps, 
taken  as  a  whole,  the  most  strange  and  discordant  that  ever 
marched  under  any  one  banner.  They  were  representatives  from 
almost  every  nation  on  earth,  including  many  tribes  of  North 
American  Indians,  and  speaking  all  manner  of  tongues.  Yet  this 
motley  crew  had  been  disciplined  into  a  very  efficient  corps. 

Col.  Fremont  then  embarked  in  the  ship  Sterling  from  San 
Francisco  for  the  south,  the  more  immediate  scene  of  action  ;  but 
after  having  been  out  at  sea  for  twenty  days,  he  was  forced  by  bad 
weather  to  disembark  at  Monterey.  Here  it  was  that  Col.  Fre 
mont  made  his  successful  excursion  to  the  Mission  of  St.  John's, 
of  which  Lieut.  Talbot  speaks. 

(It  is  to  be  remembered  that,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1846,  Capt. 
Fremont  had  been  appointed,  in  his  absence,  by  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  the  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  new  regiment  of 
"Mounted  Riflemen."  Of  this,  distance  had  precluded  hitherto 
any  knowledge  in  California. — Henceforth,  Fremont  will  be  spoken 
of  under  his  proper  title  as  an  officer  of  the  United  States  army.) 

From  the  Mission  of  St.  John's,  Col.  Fremont  commenced, 
about  the  26th  of  November,  his  march  on  the  "City  of  the  An 
gels."  On  this  march  of  nearly  400  miles,  the  Californians 
hovered  around  its  flanks,  watching  for  some  false  move  or  decline 
of  vigilance.  Our  limits  preclude  details  to  any  great  extent. 
On  the  14th  of  December,  Don  Jesu  Pico,  with  several  others, 
was  taken  prisoners,  at  Wilson's  Rancho,  and  the  next  day  he 
was  tried  by  a  court-martial,  and  condemned  to  be  shot  the  day 


PARDON   OF  JESU  PICO.  161 


after,  at  12  o'clock.  The  incident  of  Pico's  pardon  is  too  well 
told  to  seek  other  language  than  Lieut.  Talbot's,  who  thus  describes 
the  scene : — 

"There  was  no  time  to  lose  ;  the  hour  of  twelve  next  day  was 
fixed  for  the  execution.  It  was  11  o'clock,  and  I  chanced  to  be 
in  the  colonel's  room,  when  a  lady  with  a  group  of  children,  fol 
lowed  by  many  other  ladies,  burst  into  the  room,  throwing  them 
selves  upon  their  knees,  and  crying  for  mercy  for  the  father  and 
husband.  It  was  the  wife  and  children  and  friends  of  Pico. 
Never  did  I  hear  such  accents  of  grief.  Never  did  I  witness 
such  an  agonizing  scene.  I  turned  away  my  eyes,  for  I  could  not 
look  at  it,  and  soon  heard  from  Col.  Fremont  (whose  heart  was 
never  formed  to  resist  such  a  scene)  the  heavenly  words  of  par 
don.  Then  the  tumult  of  feeling  took  a  different  turn.  Joy  and 
gratitude  broke  out,  filled  the  room  with  benedictions,  and  spread 
to  those  without.  To  finish  the  scene,  the  condemned  man  was 
brought  in,  and  then  I  saw  the  whole  impulsiveness  and  fire  of 
the  Spanish  character,  when  excited  by  some  powerful  emotion. 
He  had  been  calm,  composed,  quiet,  and  almost  silent,  under  his 
trial  and  condemnation  ;  but  at  the  word  pardon,  a  storm  of  impe 
tuous  feeling  burst  forth,  and,  throwing  himself  at  the  feet  of 
Col.  Fremont,  he  swore  to  him  an  eternal  fidelity  ;  and  demanded 
the  privilege  of  going  with  him  and  dying  for  him. 

"But  it  was  not  yet  all  over  with  Col.  Fremont.  His  own  men 
required  the  death  of  Pico— he  had  done  us  much  harm,  and,  in 
fact,  was  the  head  of  the  insurrection  in  that  district,  and  had 
broken  his  parole.  The  colonel  went  among  them  and  calmed 
the  ferment  in  his  own  camp.  He  quieted  his  own  men ;  but 
others,  who  were  not  there,  have  since  cried  out  for  the  execution 
of  Pico,  and  made  his  pardon  an  accusation  against  Col.  Fremont. 
The  pacified  state  of  the  country  will  answer  the  accusation,  and 
show  that  it  was  a  case  in  which  policy  and  humanity  went  to 
gether." 

On  the  27th,  Col.  Fremont  arrived  at  Santa  Barbara,  where  he 
caused  the  American  flag  to  be  hoisted,  with  much  ceremony,  by 
Lieut.  Talbot  and  the  nine  men  who  had  before  refused  to  sur- 

o2  11 


162  CAPITULATION   OF   GEN.   PICO. 


render  at  that  place,  the  principal  authorities  of  the  town  being 
required  to  be  present. 

This  march,  in  mid-winter,  was  one  of  very  great  hardship. 
Both  men  and  horses  suffered  exceedingly.  On  Christmas  day, 
the  battalion  lost,  in  crossing  the  Santa  Barbara  mountains,  from 
a  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred  horses.  The  artillery  was 
brought  over  by  hand,  engaging  at  one  time  over  100  men  at  the 
ropes. 

From  Santa  Barbara,  Col.  Fremont  again  pressed  on  towards 
the  "City  of  the  Angels,"  when,  on  the  12th  of  January,  1847, 
at  the  Ranch  of  Couenga,  near  the  point  of  their  destination,  the 
California  forces,  under  Don  Andres  Pico,  were  met,  in  advance 
of  the  position  where  Col.  Fremont  had  expected  to  have  encoun 
tered  them  in  deadly  strife. 

Such,  however,  was  not  the  result.  The  Californians  sent  for 
ward  a  flag  of  truce — propositions  of  peace  or  of  cessation  of  hos 
tilities  were  submitted  to  the  commandant  of  the  California  batta 
lion  of  United  States  forces,  which  Col.  Fremont  so  far  acceded  to 
as  to  appoint  a  board  of  commissioners  to  consult  with  a  similar 
board  appointed  by  the  Californians,  and  to  agree  to  an  entire  ces 
sation  of  hostilities  until  the  next  afternoon,  by  which  time  the 
negotiations  were  to  close.  The  American  commissioners  were 
P.  B.  Reading,  major  of  the  California  battalion,  Wm.  H.  Russel, 
ordnance  officer,  and  Louis  McLane,  Jr.,  commanding  artillery, 
of  the  California  battalion.  The  Californian  commissioners  were 
Jose  Anto.  Carrillo,  commandant  de  Escuadron,  and  Augustine 
Olvera,  deputado— who,  on  the  13th,  agreed  on  the  terms  of  capi 
tulation,  whereby  the  Californian  forces  delivered  up  their  artillery 
and  public  arms,  and  disbanded  themselves,  which  was  approved 
of  on  the  same  day,  by  Col.  Fremont,  as  "Military  Commandant 
of  California,"  and  by  Andres  Pico,  who  signed  as  "Command- 
ante  de  Escuadron  en  gef  de  las  fuerzas  nacionales  en  Cali 
fornia." 

These  terms  did  not  treat  the  Californians  as  rebels  or  citizens 
of  the  United  States,  and  did  not  exact  oaths  of  allegiance,  but 
postponed  it  for  a  definitive  treaty  of  peace,  requiring  nothing  but 


COM.  STOCKTON'S   OPINION   OF  THE  CAPITULATION.  163 

present  obedience  to  the  American  authorities,  and  forgetfulness 
of  the  past. 

It  will  be  seen  in  another  chapter  devoted  to  the  operations  of 
the  Pacific  squadron,  and  their  co-operation  in  the  conquest  of 
California,  that  the  official  details  there  given  of  the  capitulation, 
&c.,  accompanied  the  official  despatches  of  Com.  Stockton,  to 
whom,  as  his  presumed  superior  in  authority,  they  were  given  by 
Col.  Fremont,  after  his  arrival  at  the  "  City  of  the  Angels."  On 
his  arrival,  (the  13th,)  he  found  Gen.  Kearny  and  Com.  Stockton, 
and  reported,  that  day,  his  battalion  to  Gen.  Kearny. 

It  will  be  seen  that  Com.  Stockton,  in  his  despatch  of  the  next 
day  to  Mr.  Bancroft,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  speaks  thus  of  these 
occurrences : — "  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  of  the  arrival  of 
Lieutenant-colonel  Fremont  at  this  place,  with  four  hundred  men— - 
that  some  of  the  insurgents  have  made  their  escape  to  Sonora, 
and  that  the  rest  have  surrendered  to  our  arms." 

"  Immediately  after  the  battles  of  the  8th  and  9th,  they  began  to 
disperse  ;  and  I  am  sorry  to  say,  that  their  leader,  Jose  Ma.  Flores, 
made  his  escape,  and  that  the  others  have  been  pardoned  by  a 
capitulation  agreed  upon  by  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont. 

"  Jose  Ma.  Flores,  the  commander  of  the  insurgent  forces,  two  or 
three  days  previous  to  the  8th,  sent  two  commissioners  with  a  flag 
of  truce  to  my  camp,  to  make  '  a  treaty  of  peace.1  I  informed 
the  commissioners  that  I  could  not  recognise  Jose  Ma.  Flores,  who 
had  broken  his  parole,  as  an  honourable  man,  or  as  one  having 
any  rightful  authority,  or  worthy  to  be  treated  with — that  he  was 
a  rebel  in  arms,  and  if  I  caught  him,  I  would  have  him  shot.  It 
seems,  that  not  being  able  to  negotiate  with  me,  and  having  lost 
the  battles  of  the  8th  and  9th,  they  met  Col.  Fremont  on  the  12th 
instant*,  on  his  way  here,  who,  not  knowing  what  had  occurred, 
entered  into  the  capitulation  with  them,  which  I  now  send  to 
you ;  and,  although  I  refused  to  do  it  myself,  still  I  have  thought 
it  best  to  approve  it.  The  territory  of  California  is  again  tranquil, 
and  the  civil  government  formed  by  me  is  again  in  operation  in  the 
places  where  it  was  interrupted  by  the  insurgents. 

"Col.  Fremont  has  five  hundred  men  in  his  battalion,  which  wili 


164  MEETING  WITH  KEARNY  AND  STOCKTON. 

be  quite  sufficient  to  preserve  the  peace  of  the  territory ;  and  I 
will  immediately  withdraw  my  sailors  and  marines,  and  sail  as 
soon  as  possible  for  the  coast  of  Mexico,  where  I  hope  they  will 
give  a  good  account  of  themselves." 

It  was  here,  at  this  meeting  of  Col.  Fremont  with  Com.  Stock 
ton  and  Gen.  Kearny,  that  a  misunderstanding  arose  as  to  their 
relative  prerogatives. 

In  a  few  days  after,  Gen.  Kearny  withdrew  to  San  Diego.  Com. 
Stockton  also  departed  "  immediately,"  as  he  had  declared  his 
intention,  leaving  Col.  Fremont  to  occupy,  with  his  battalion,  the 
"  City  of  the  Angels,"  whence  he  issued,  on  the  22d,  the  follow 
ing  circular : 

"  The  peace  of  the  country  being  restored,  and  future  tranquillity 
vouchsafed  by  a  treaty  made  and  entered  into  by  commissioners  re 
spectively  appointed  by  the  properly  authorized  California  officers 
on  the  one  hand,  and  by  myself  as  military  commandant  of  the 
United  States  forces  in  the  district  of  California  on  the  other,  by 
which  a  civil  government  is  to  take  place  of  the  military,  an  ex 
change  of  all  prisoners,  &c.,  &c.,  forthwith  ensure  to  the  end  that 
order,  and  a  wholesome  civil  police  should  obtain  throughout  the 
land—a  copy  of  which  said  treaty  will  be  immediately  published 
in  the  Californian  newspaper,  published  at  Monterey. 

"Therefore,  in  virtue  of  the  aforesaid  treaty,  as  well  as  the 
functions  that  in  me  rest  as  civil  governor  of  California,  I  do  hereby 
proclaim  order  and  peace  restored  to  the  country,  and  require  the 
immediate  release  of  all  prisoners,  the  return  of  the  civil  officers  to 
their  appropriate  duties,  and  as  strict  an  obedience  of  the  military 
to  the  civil  authority,  as  is  consistent  with  the  security  of  peace, 
and  the  maintenance  of  good  order  when  troops  are  garrisoned. 
-  "  Done  at  the  capital  of  the  Territory  of  California,  temporarily 
seated  at  the  Cuidad  de  los  Angeles,  this  22d  day  of  January, 
1847.  "J.  C.  FREMONT, 

"  Governor  and  Commander-in-chief  of  California. 

"Witness:  W.  H.  RUSSELL,  Secretary  of  State." 

Col.  Fremont  discharged  a  portion  of  his  battalion,  and  sent  the 

I 


KIT  CARSON.  165 

residue  to  San  Gabriel,  a  Catholic  missionj  seven  miles  distant  from 
Cuidad  de  los  Angeles,  (or  the  "City  of  the  Angels,")  residing 
thus  without  military  protection  in  a  city  of  about  7000  Califor 
nians,  until  the  latter  part  of  March,  when  he  learned  that  which 
we  have  already  related  in  another  chapter— the  arrival  of  Com. 
Shubrick  at  Monterey,  and  of  the  joint  circular  of  the  commodore, 
'as  "  Commander-in-chief  of  the  naval  forces,"  and  of  Brig.  Gen. 
Kearny,  as  "  Governor  of  California." 

About  the  25th  of  February,  Col.  Fremont  sent  despatches  to 
the  United  States  government,  through  passed  Midshipman  Beale, 
Lieut.  Talbot,  and  a  personage  who  has  often  figured  in  these 
sketches,  and  whose  memoir,  from  very,  competent  hands,  is  here 
inserted — not  alone  in  justice  to  him,  but  that  it  fills  up  details, 
perhaps,  wanting  in  this  narrative, — KIT  CARSON. 

"  Under  this  name,  within  a  few  years,  has  become  quite  familiar 
to  the  public,  mainly  through  his  connection  with  the  expeditions 
of  Fremont,  one  of  the  best  of  those  noble  and  original  characters 
that  have  from  time  to  time  sprung  up  on  and  beyond  our  frontier, 
retreating  with  it  to  the  west,  and  drawing  from  association  with 
uncultivated  nature,  not  the  rudeness  and  sensualism  of  the  savage, 
but  genuine  simplicity  and  truthfulness  of  disposition,  and  gene 
rosity,  bravery,  and  single-heartedness  to  a  degree  rarely  found  in 
society.  Although  Kit  has  only  become  known  to  the  reading 
people  of  '  the  States'  and  of  Europe  through  Fremont's  reports, 
he  was  long  ago  famous  in  a  world  as  extended,  if  not  as  popu 
lous  ;  famous  for  excelling  in  all  the  qualities  that  life  in  the  track 
less  and  vast  west  requires  and  developes.  He  has  been  celebrated 
(though  now  aged  only  about  thirty-seven  years)  as  a  hunter, 
trapper,  guide  or  pilot  of  the  prairies,  and  Indian  fighter,  uniting 
to  the  necessary  characteristics  of  that  adventurous  and  sturdy 
class,  a  kindness  of  heart,  and  gentleness  of  manner  that  relieves 
it  of  any  possible  harshness  or  asperity.  He  is  now  in  'the 
States,'  having  recently  arrived  with  despatches  from  California ; 
and  I  have  taken  the  opportunity  to  extract  from  him  a  few  inci 
dents  of  his  eventful  life.  He  is  worthy  of  an  honourable  and 
more  extended  memoir  ;  and  were  his  adventures  fully  written  out, 


166  KIT  CARSON. 


they  would  possess  an  interest  equal  to  any  personal  narrative 
whatever. 

"  Christopher  Carson  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in  the  year  1810, 
or  1811,  his  father  having  been  one  of  the  early  settlers,  and  also 
a  noted  hunter  and  Indian  fighter.  In  the  year  following  Kit's 
birth,  the  family  removed,  for  the  sake  of  more  elbow-room  than 
the  advancing  population  of  Kentucky  left  them,  to  the  territory 
of  Missouri.  On  this  frontier,  bred  to  border  life,  Kit  remained  to 
the  age  of  fifteen,  when  he  joined  a  trading  party  to  Santa  Fe. 
This  was  his  introduction  to  those  vast  plains  that  stretch  beyond 
the  state  of  Missouri.  Instead  of  returning  home,  Kit  found  his 
way,  by  various  adventures,  south,  through  New  Mexico,  to  the 
copper-mines  of  Chihuahua,  where  he  was  employed  some  months 
as  a  teamster. 

"  When  about  seventeen  years  old,  he  made  his  first  expedition 
as  a  trapper.  This  was  with  a  party  which  had  been  induced  by 
favourable  accounts  of  fresh  trapping  grounds  on  the  Rio  Colorado 
of  California,  to  an  adventure  thither ;  so  that  Kit's  first  exploits 
were  in  the  same  remote  and  romantic  region  where,  during  the 
last  year,  he  and  all  his  comrades,  with  their  commander,  have 
earned  imperishable  honour.  The  enterprise  was  successful,  and 
Kit  relates  many  interesting  anecdotes  of  the  hardships  of  the 
wilderness,  and  of  the  encounters  of  his  party  with  the  Indians. 
The  Mexican  authorities  and  settlers  in  California  were  even  at 
that  time  jealous  of  the  Americans,  and  threatened  to  seize  even 
this  inoffensive  and  roving  party  of  beaver-catchers.  They  made 
good  their  return,  however,  to  Taos,  in  New  Mexico ;  whence, 
soon  after,  Kit  joined  a  trapping  party  to  the  head-waters  of  the 
Arkansas,  (likewise  a  region  embraced,  since  the  last  published 
Expedition,  in  the  surveys  of  Col.  Fremont.)  Without  recrossing 
the  prairies,  Kit  went  northward  to  the  region  of  the  Rocky  Moun 
tains  that  gives  rise  to  the  Missouri  and  Columbia  rivers,  and  there 
remained  near  eight  years,  engaged  in  the  then  important  occupa 
tion  of  trapping.  The  great  demand  for  the  beaver,  and  the  con 
sequent  high  prices  at  that  time  paid  for  the  peltries,  gave  an  ad 
ditional  stimulus  to  the  adventurous  spirit  of  the  young  men  of  the 


KIT   CARSON.  167 

sys^^^v^^^^N^x^^^^/^^^ 

west,  and  drew  nearly  all  who  preferred  the  excitements  and 
hazards  of  life  in  the  wilderness  to  quieter  pursuits,  into  the  re 
cesses  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Here  a  peculiar  class  was  formed ; 
the  elements,  the  sturdy,  enterprising,  and  uncurbed  character  of 
the  frontier;  the  circumstances  that  influenced  and  formed  it,  nature 
in  her  wildest,  roughest,  and  grandest  aspects — savages,  both  as 
associates  and  foes,  of  every  cast,  from  the  wretched  Root-diggers 
to  the  vindictive  Blackfeet,  and  the  courageous  and  warlike  Crows 
— and  a  vocation  of  constant  labour,  privation,  and  peril  in  every 
shape,  yet  of  gains  of  a  nature  and  degree  to  give  it  somewhat  of 
the  characteristics  of  gambling.  The  decrease  of  the  beaver 
before  a  pursuit  of  the  poor  animal  so  ruthless  as  was  thus  stimu 
lated,  and  the  substitution  of  other  commodities  for  the  beaver  fur, 
I  have  left  trapping  scarcely  worth  following  as  a  .vocation  ;  and  the 
!  race  of  trappers  has  nearly  disappeared  from  the  mountain  gorges, 
!  where  they  built  their  rude  lodges,  where  they  set  their  traps  for 
the  wily  beaver,  and  where  were  their  frequent  combats  with  the 
savages,  and  with  wild  beasts  not  less  formidable.  In  the  school 
of  men  thus  formed  by  hardship,  exposure,  peril,  and  temptation, 
our  hero  acquired  all  their  virtues,  and  escaped  their  vices.  He 
became  noted  through  the  extent  of  the  trapping  grounds,  and  on 
both  sides  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  as  a  successful  trapper,  an 
unfailing  shot,  an  unerring  guide,  and  for  bravery,  sagacity,  and 
steadiness  in  all  circumstances.  He  was  chosen  to  lead  in  almost 
all  enterprises  of  unusual  danger,  and  in  all  attacks  on  the  In 
dians.  At  one  time,  with  a  party  of  twelve,  he  tracked  a  band 
of  near  sixty  Crows,  who  had  stolen  some  of  the  horses  belonging 
to  the  trappers,  cut  loose  the  animals  which  were  tied  within  ten 
feet  of  the  strong  fort  of  logs  in  which  the  Indians  had  taken 
shelter,  attacked  them,  and  made  good  his  retreat  with  the  reco 
vered  horses  ;  an  Indian  of  another  tribe,  who  was  with  the  trap 
pers,  bringing  away  a  Crow  scalp  as  a  trophy.  In  one  combat 
with  the  Blackfeet,  Carson  received  a  rifle  ball  in  his  left  shoulder, 
breaking  it.  Save  this,  he  has  escaped  the  manifold  dangers  to 
*which  he  has  been  exposed,  without  serious  bodily  injury.  Of 
course,  in  so  turbulent  and  unrestrained  a  life,  there  were  not  un- 


168  KIT  CARSON. 

*******S***S**J**t*S*~*S***^^ 

frequent  personal  rencounters  among  the  trappers  themselves,  nor 
could  the  most  peaceably-disposed  always  avoid  them.  These 
were  most  frequent  and  savage  at  the  periods  when  the  trappers 
went  in  to  the  *  rendezvous,'  as  were  called  the  points  where  the 
companies  kept  their  establishments  for  receiving  the  peltries  and 
supplying  the  trappers.  Here  a  few  days  of  indulgence  were 
commonly  allowed  himself  by  the  trapper,  and  there  was  much 
drinking  and  gambling,  and  consequently  fighting.  Feuds,  grow 
ing  out  of  national  feelings,  would  also  naturally  enough  sometimes 
occur  among  the  trappers — there  being  Canadians  and  Mexicans 
as  well  as  the  Americans ;  all  having  pride  of  race  and  country. 
On  one  occasion,  a  Frenchman,  who  ranked  as  a  bully,  had  whip 
ped  a  good  many  Canadians,  and  then  began  to  insult  the  Ameri 
cans,  saying  they  were  only  worth  being  whipped  with  switches. 
At  this,  Carson  fired  up  and  said,  *  He  was  the  most  trifling  one 
among  the  Americans,  and  to  begin  with  him.'  After  some  little 
more  talk,  each  went  off  and  armed  himself — Carson  with  a  pistol, 
the  Frenchman  with  a  rifle— and  both  mounted  for  the  fight. 
Riding  up  until  their  horses'  heads  touched,  they  fired  almost  at 
the  same  instant,  Carson  a  little  the  quickest,  and,  his  ball  passing 
through  the  Frenchman's  hand,  made  him  jerk  up  his  gun,  and 
sent  the  ball  which  was  intended  for  Carson's  heart  grazing  by  his 
left  eye  and  singeing  his  hair.  This  is  the  only  serious  personal 
quarrel  of  Carson's  life,  as  he  is,  like  most  very  brave  men,  of  a 
peaceable  and  gentle  temper. 

"Col.  Fremont  owed  his  good  fortune  in  procuring  Carson's  ser 
vices,  to  an  accidental  meeting  on  a  steamboat  above  St.  Louis— 
neither  having  ever  before  heard  of  the  other.  It  was  at  the  com 
mencement  of  Fremont's  first  expedition.  Carson  continued  with 
it  until,  in  its  return,  it  had  recrossed  the  mountains.  His  courage, 
fidelity,  and  excellent  character,  so  far  conciliated  the  good  will  of 
the  commander,  that,  in  his  second  expedition,  he  gladly  availed  him 
self  again  of  Kit's  services,  on  meeting  with  him,  as  he  chanced  to 
do,  on  the  confines  of  New  Mexico.  Kit  again  left  the  party  after 
its  arrival  this  side  of  the  mountains — not,  however,  until  Fremont 
had  obtained  a  promise  from  him  to  join  the  third  expedition,  in, 


KIT  CARSON.  169 

case  one  should  be  organized.  Some  incidents  will  be  interesting, 
connected  wtth  this  latter  expedition,  which  was  interrupted  in  its 
purely  scientific  character  by  the  treachery  of  the  Mexican  chief 
(Castro)  compelling  Fremont  to  change  his  peaceful  employment, 
and  which,  owing  to  the  continuance  of  the  war  with  Mexico,  is 
not  yet  completed. 

"  In  the  interim  between  Fremont's  second  and  third  expeditions, 
Carson  had  settled  himself  near  Taos,  and  had  begun  to  farm,  pre 
paring  to  lead  a  quiet  life,  when  he  received  a  note  from  Fremont, 
written  at  Bent's  Fort,  reminding  him  of  his  promise,  and  telling 
him  he  would  wait  there  for  him.  On  this  occasion  Carson  showed 
his  strong  friendship  for  his  old  commander,  and  the  generous  and 
unselfish  nature  of  his  feelings.  In  four  days  from  receiving  the 
note,  Carson  had  joined  the  party,  having  sold  house  and  farm  for 
less  than  half  the  sum  he  had  just  expended  upon  it,  and  put  his 
family  under  the  protection  of  his  friend,  the  late  Gov.  Bent,  until 
he  should  return  from  a  certainly  long  and  dangerous  journey. 
This  protection,  unfortunately,  was  taken  from  them  in  the  late 
massacre  at  Taos,  when  Carson's  brother-in-law  was  also  one  of 
the  victims  to  the  fury  of  the  Mexicans  against  all  connected  with 
the  Americans.  Mrs.  Carson  saved  her  life  by  flight,  leaving  them 
to  rob  the  house  of  everything.  Kendall,  and  all  others  who  have 
written  of  their  adventures  in  New  Mexico,  ascribe  the  highest 
character  to  the  women  of  that  country  for  modesty,  generosity, 
quick  sympathy,  and  all  feminine  virtues.  To  this  amiable  class 
belongs  the  wife  of  Carson,  who  has  paid  so  dearly  for  her  affec 
tion  for  him. 

"  The  route  of  the  third  expedition  led  the  party  to  the  southern 
and  western  side  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake — a  region  entirely  unex 
plored,  and  filled,  according  to  the  superstitions  and  tales  current 
among  the  Indians  and  the  trappers  of  the  mountains,  with  all 
imaginable  horrors ;  a  vast  desert,  void  of  vegetation  and  fresh 
water,  abounding  in  quicksands  and  in  brackish  pools  and  rivers, 
with  only  subterranean  outlets.  This  was  the  reputed  character 
of  the  'country,  justifying  at  least  the  apprehension  of  lack  of  those 
indispensables  to  the  voyageur  of  the  wilderness — water  and  grass. 


170  KIT  CARSON. 

In  truth,  the  southern  border  of  the  lake  was  found  to  be  skirted 
with  a  salt  plain  of  about  sixty  miles  in  width.  Over  this,  as  else 
where,  Carson,  in  his  capacity  of  scout,  was  always  with  the  ad 
vance  party,  to  search  for  water  and  convenient  places  for  camp — 
the  usual  signal  of  the  prairies,  a  fire,  serving,  by  its  column  of 
smoke,  to  find  out  where  the  advance  were  halting. 

"  The  neighbourhood  of  the  Rio  Colorado  and  the  Sierra  Nevada 
of  California,  is  infested  with  Indian  tribes  of  Hippophagi,  or 
Horse-Eaters,  (as  they  may  well  be  called,)  who  keep  the  northern 
parts  of  California  in  alarm,  by  sweeping  down  into  the  settle 
ments,  and  carrying  off  horses  and  mules,  which  they  use  for  food. 
With  these  savages  the  expedition  had  several  .skirmishes ;  but, 
owing  to  the  perpetual  vigilance  which  was  exercised,  neither  men 
nor  animals  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  savages. 

"When  Fremont's  party,  in  May,  1846,  (not  knowing  of  the 
existence  of  the  war  with  Mexico,)  retired  from  California,  they 
proceeded  north  as  far  as  the  Tlamath  lake,  in  Oregon,  proposing 
to  explore  a  new  route  into  the  Willhameth  valley. 

"  A  courier  having  overtaken  Col.  Fremont  there,  to  say  that 
Mr.  Gillespie  and  five  men  were  endeavouring  to  overtake  him,  he 
took  ten  men  and  returned  sixty  miles  with  the  courier ;  making 
all  haste,  in  order  to  reach  them  before  night,  and  prevent  any 
attack  which  the  Indians  might  be  tempted  to  make  on  a  small 
party.  These  Tlamath  Indians,  by  nature  brave  and  warlike,  have 
now  a  new  source  of  power  in  the  iron  arrow-heads  and  axes  fur 
nished  them  by  the  British  posts  in  that  country.  Their  arrows 
can  only  be  extracted  from  the  flesh  by  the  knife,  as  they  are 
barbed,  and  of  course  are  not  to  be  drawn  out.  The  events  of  that 
night  and  the  days  following,  illustrate  so  fully  the  nightly  dangers 
of  an  Indian  country,  and  the  treacherous  nature  of  savages,  that 
I  will  give  them,  and  in  Carson's  own  words : 

"'Mr.  Gillespie  had  brought  the  colonel  letters  from  home — the 
first  he  had  had  since  leaving  the  States  the  year  before — and  he 
was  up,  and  kept  a  large  fire  burning  until  after  midnight ;  the 
rest  of  us  were  tired  out,  and  all  went  to  sleep.  This  was  the 
only  night  in  all  our  travels,  except  the  one  night  on  the  island  in 


KIT  CARSON.  171 

the  Salt  Lake,  that  we  failed  to  keep  guard ;  and  as  the  men  were 
so  tired,  and  we  expected  no  attack  now  that  we  had  sixteen  in 
party,  the  colonel  didn't  like  to  ask  it  of  them,  but  sat  up  late  him 
self.  Owens  and  I  were  sleeping  together,  and  we  were  waked  at 
the  same  time  by  the  licks  of  the  axe  that  killed  our  men.  At 
first,  I  didn't  know  it  was  that ;  but  I  called  to  Basil,  who  was  that 
side,  "What's  the  matter  there? — what's  that  fuss  about?"  He 
never  answered,  for  he  was  dead  then,  poor  fellow ;  and  he  never 
knew  what  killed  him — his  head  had  been  cut  in,  in  his  sleep  ;  the 
other  groaned  a  little  as  he  died.  The  Delawares  (we  had  four 
with  us)  were  sleeping  at  that  fire,  and  they  sprang  up  as  the  Tla- 
maths  charged  them.  One  of  them  caught  up  a  gun,  which  was 
unloaded ;  but,  although  he  could  do  no  execution,  he  kept  them  at 
bay,  fighting  like  a  soldier,  and  didn't  give  up  until  he  was  shot 
full  of  arrows — three  entering  his  heart :  he  died  bravely.  As 
soon  as  I  had  called  out,  I  saw  it  was  Indians  in  the  camp,  and  I 
and  Owens  together  cried  out  '  Indians.'  There  were  no  orders 
given ;  things  went  on  too  fast,  and  the  colonel  had  men  with  him 
that  didn't  need  to  be  told  their  duty.  The  colonel  and  I,  Max 
well,  Owens,  Godey,  and  Stepp,  jumped  together,  we  six,  and  ran 
to  the  assistance  of  our  Delawares.  I  don't  know  who  fired  and 
who  didn't ;  but  I  think  it  was  Stepp's  shot  that  killed  the  Tlamath 
chief;  for  it  was  at  the  crack  of  Stepp's  gun  that  he  fell.  He  had 
an  English  half-axe  slung  to  his  wrist  by  a  cord,  and  there  were 
forty  arrows  left  in  his  quiver — the  most  beautiful  and  warlike 
arrows  I  ever  saw.  He  must  have  been  the  bravest  man  among 
them,  from  the  way  he  was  armed,  and  judging  by  his  cap.  When 
the  Tlamaths  saw  him  fall  they  ran  ;  but  we  lay,  every  man  with 
his  rifle  cocked,  until  daylight,  expecting  another  attack. 

"  *  In  the  morning,  we  found,  by  the  tracks,  that  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  of  the  Tlamaths  had  attacked  us.  They  had  killed  three 
of  our  men,  and  wounded  one  of  the  Delawares,  who  scalped  the 
chief,  whom  we  left  where  he  fell.  Our  dead  men  we  carried  on 
mules ;  but,  after  going  about  ten  miles,  we  found  it  impossible  to 
get  them  any  farther  through  the  thick  timber ;  and,  finding  a 
secret  place,  we  buried  them  under  logs  and  chunks,  having  no 


17*  KIT  CARSON. 


way  to  dig  a  grave.  It  was  only  a  few  days  before  this  fight  that 
gome  of  these  same  Indians  had  come  into  our  camp  ;  and,  although 
we  had  only  meat  for  two  days,  and  felt  sure  that  we  would  have 
to  eat  mules  for  ten  or  fifteen  days  to  come,  the  colonel  divided 
with  them,  and  even  had  a  mule  unpacked  to  give  them  some 
tobacco  and  knives.' 

"  The  party  then  retraced  its  way  into  California ;  and,  two  days 
after  this  rencontre,  they  met  a  large  village  of  Tlamaths — more 
than  a  hundred  warriors.  Carson  was  ahead  with  ten  men,  but 
one  of  them  having  been  discovered,  he  could  not  follow  his 
orders,  which  were  to  send  back  word  and  let  Fremont  come  up 
with  the  rest  in  case  they  found  Indians.  But  as  they  had  been 
seen,  it  only  remained  to  charge  the  village ;  which  they  did, 
killing  many,  and  putting  to  flight  the  rest.  The  women  and 
children,  Carson  says,  'we  did  not  interfere  with  ;'  but  they  burnt 
the  village,  together  with  their  canoes  and  fishing-nets.  In  a 
subsequent  encounter,  the  same  day,  Carson's  life  was  imminently 
exposed.  As  they  galloped  up,  he  was  rather  in  advance,  when 
he  observed  an  Indian  fixing  his  arrow  to  let  fly  at  him.  Carson 
levelled  his  rifle,  but  it  snapped ;  and  in  an  instant  the  arrow 
would  have  pierced  him,  had  not  Fremont,  seeing  the  danger, 
dashed  his  horse  on  the  Indian,  and  knocked  him  down.  '  I  owe 
my  life  to  them  two,'  says  Carson — '  the  colonel  and  Sacramento 
saved  me.  Sacramento  is  a  noble  Californian  horse  which  Capt. 
Sutler  gave  to  Col.  Fremont  in  1844,  and  which  has  twice  made 
the  distance  between  Kentucky  and  his  native  valley,  where  he 
earned  his  name  by  swimming  the  river  after  which  he  is  called, 
at  the  close  of  a  long  day's  journey.  Notwithstanding  all  his 
hardships,  (for  he  has  travelled  everywhere  with  his  master,)  he 
is  still  the  favourite  horse  of  Col.  Fremont. 

"  The  hostile  and  insulting  course  of  Castro  drew  Fremont  into 
retaliatory  measures  ;  and,  aided  by  the  American  settlers,  he  pur 
sued  the  Mexicans  for  some  time  ;  but,  being  unable  to  make  them 
stand  and  fight,  (they  always  flying  before  him,)  the  flag  of  inde 
pendence  was  raised  at  Sonoma  on  the  5th  of  July,  1846.  Learn 
ing  soon  after  of  the  existence  of  the  war,  the  American  flag  was 


KIT  CARSON.  173 


promptly  substituted,  and  the  party  proceeded  to  Monterey,  where 
they  found  the  fleet  under  Com.  Sloat  already  in  possession. 
Castro,  with  his  forces,  had  retreated  before  Fremont ;  and,  to 
prevent  their  escape  into  Sonora,  Col.  Fremont,  with  a  hundred 
and  sixty  men,  was  offered  the  sloop  of  war  'Cyane'  to  carry 
them  down  to  San  Diego  and  facilitate  the  pursuit,  as  he  hoped 
by  that  means  to  intercept  Castro  at  Puebla  de  los  Angeles.  Then 
Carson,  for  the  first  time,  saw  the  blue  ocean,  and  the  great  vessels 
that,  like  white-winged  birds,  spread  their  sails  above  its  waters. 
The  vast  prairies,  whose  immense  green  surface  has  been  aptly 
likened  to  the  sea,  together  with  all  objects  ever  seen  upon  it, 
were  familiar  to  him ;  but  it  proved  no  preparation  for  actual  salt 
water,  and  the  pride  and  strength  of  the  backwoodsmen  were  soon 
humbled  by  the  customary  tribute  to  Neptune.  The  forces  were 
landed,  and  raised  the  flag  at  San  Diego,  and  then  they  proceeded 
jointly  to  the  capital,  (Cuidad  de  los  Angeles,)  where,  although, 
from  the  detention  at  sea  Castro  had  escaped,  American  authority 
was  also  established. 

"From  this  point,  on  the  1st  of  September,  1846,  Carson,  with 
fifteen  men,  was  despatched  by  Fremont  with  an  account  of  the 
progress  and  state  of  affairs  in  that  distant  conquest.  Carson  was 
to  have  made  the  journey  from  Pueblo  to  Washington  city  and 
back,  in  140  days.  He  pushed  ahead  accordingly,  not  stopping 
even  for  game,  but  subsisting  on  his  mules,  of  which  they  made 
food  as  the  animals  broke  down  in  the  rapidity  of  the  journey. 
He  had  crossed  the  wilderness,  as  he  expected,  in  thirty  days, 
when,  meeting  with  Gen.  Kearny's  company  within  a  few  days 
of  Santa  Fe,  he  was  turned  back  by  that  officer,  to  whose  orders 
he  believed  himself  subject,  and  with  infinite  reluctance  resigned 
his  despatches  to  another,  and  returned  to  guide  Kearny's  com 
mand  into  California. 

"  Gen.  Kearny  entered  California  without  molestation,  until  the 
fight  of  San  Pasqual ;  an  official  account  of  which  has  been 
published.  In  the  charge  made  upon  the  Mexicans,  Carson,  as 
usual,  was  among  the  foremost,  when,  as  he  approached  within 
bullet  range  of  the  enemy,  who  were  drawn  up  in  order  of  battle, 


174  KIT  CARSON. 


his  horse  stumbled  and  fell,  pitching  him  over  his  head,  and 
breaking  his  rifle  in  twain.  Seizing  his  knife,  he  advanced  on 
foot,  until  he  found  a  killed  dragoon,  whose  rifle  he  took,  and  was 
pressing  on,  when  he  met  the  mounted  men  returning  from  the 
charge,  the  Mexicans  having  galloped  off.  At  the  instance  of 
Carson,  the  American  party  then  took  possession  of  a  small  rocky 
hill,  near  the  scene  of  the  battle,  as  the  strongest  position  in  reach. 
Not  being  in  a  situation  to  go  forward,  they  encamped  here  ;  and 
the  enemy  collecting  in  force,  they  remained  in  a  state  of  siege. 
There  was  little  of  either  grass  or  water  on  the  hill,  and  soon  both 
animals  and  men  began  to  suffer.  The  way  was  so  thickly  beset 
with  the  enemy,  that  the  commander  doubted  the  propriety  of  at 
tempting  to  cut  a  passage  through,  when,  after  four  days'  siege, 
Carson  and  Passed  Midshipman  Beale,  of  the  navy,  (who  had  been 
sent  to  meet  Kearny,  with  some  thirty  men,  as  a  complimentary 
escort  to  San  Diego,]  volunteered  to  go  to  Capt.  Stockton,  at  that 
place,  and  bring  a  reinforcement. 

"This  daring  enterprise,  these  intrepid  and  resolute  young  men, 
accompanied  by  a  Delaware  Indian  who  was  attached  as  a  spy 
to  Gen.  Kearny's  command,  successfully  accomplished,  but  not 
without  extreme  suffering  and  peril.  The  distance  between  the 
camp  and  San  Diego  was  but  thirty  miles ;  but,  as  they  had  to 
make  long  detours,  they  travelled  nearer  fifty.  They  left  the 
camp  in  the  night  of  the  9th  of  December,  crawling  in  a  horizontal 
position  through  the  enemy's  lines.  Their  shoes  made  some 
noise ;  for  which  cause  they  took  them  off,  and  during  the  night 
unfortunately  lost  them.  Lying  by  all  day  to  avoid  the  enemy, 
they  succeeded  by  the  end  of  the  second  night  in  reaching  their 
destination,  and  procuring  the  necessary  reinforcement.  Their 
feet  and  flesh  torn  and  bleeding  from  the  rocks  and  thorny  shrubs, 
haggard  from  hunger,  thirst,  anxiety,  and  sleeplessness,  they 
were,  again  nevertheless,  in  full  performance  of  duty  at  the  battles 
of  the  8th  and  9th  of  January. 

"When  Fremont,  after  meeting  with  and  accepting  the  sur 
render  of  the  Mexican  forces,  reached  Los  Angeles,  Carson  imme 
diately  returned  to  his  command,  and  in  the  ensuing  month  was 


KIT   CARSON.  175 

again  selected  to  cross  the  desert,  the  wilderness,  the  mountains, 
and  the  prairies,  to  bring  news  of  those  far-off  operations  of  its 
agents  to  the  government  in  Washington.  Leaving  the  frontier 
settlements  of  California  on  the  25th  of  February,  Carson  arrived 
in  St.  Louis  about  the  middle  of  May — making  the  journey,  not 
withstanding  the  inclemency  of  the  season,  and  an  unavoidable 
detention  of  ten  days  at  Santa  Fe,  in  a  shorter  time  than  it  was 
ever  before  accomplished.  The  unsettled  state  of  the  country— 
the  war  with  Mexico,  inciting  the  savage  tribes  to  unusual  license 
and  daring — added  much  to  the  inevitable  hazards  and  privations 
of  the  journey,  rendering  the  most  unceasing  vigilance  necessary 
night  and  day ;  while  the  speed  with  which  the  party  travelled 
debarred  them  from  the  usual  resource  of  travellers  in  uninhabited 
regions,  and  they  were  fain  to  resort  to  the  unsavory  subsistence 
of  those  Hippophagi  of  the  Sierra  Nevada ;  only  converting  the 
poor  beasts  to  food,  however,  when  they  were  travel-worn  and  ex 
hausted. 

"Fortunately,  the  journey  was  made  in  its  extent  without  serious 
mishap,  and  Carson,  with  Lieut.  Beale,  his  comrade  in  the  night 
march  to  San  Diego,  and  Lieut.  Talbot,  the  young  gentleman  who 
led  the  gallant  retreat  of  the  little  party  of  ten  through  the  enemy's 
midst,  a  distance  of  three  hundred  miles  from  Santa  Barbara  to 
Monterey,  are  all  now  in  Washington. 

"  Since  Carson's  arrival,  solely  through  the  appreciation  by  the 
President  of  his  merit  and  services,  he  has  received  a  commission 
of  lieutenant  in  the  rifle  regiment  of  which  Mr.  Fremont  is  the 
lieutenant-colonel.  The  appointment  was  unsolicited  and  unex 
pected — the  suggestion  entirely  of  the  President's  own  recognition 
of  the  deserts  of  this  man  of  the  prairies — a  fact  that  is  most 
honourable  to  the  Executive,  and  makes  the  favour  the  more 
gratifying  to  the  friends  of  Carson." 

As  soon  as  Col.  Fremont  was  thus  apprised  of  the  arrival  and 
action  of  Com.  Shubrick  and  of  Gen.  Kearny,  he  started,  (on  21st 
March,  1847,)  from  Lcs  Angeles  for  Monterey,  a  distance  of  near 
500  miles,  without  any  attendants  but  a  coloured  man  and  two 
California  gentlemen,  Don  Jesus  Pico,  who  had  been  pardoned  at 


176  COL.  FREMONT  AND  GEN.  KEARNY. 

San  Luis  Obispo,  and  Don  Andres  Pico,  both  of  whom  had  per 
formed  distinguished  parts  in  hostilities  against  the  Americans,  but 
were  then  devoted  to  Col.  Fremont  in  gratitude  for  clemency 
shown.  From  this  fact  is  inferred  the  tranquillity  of  the  country. 
Col.  Fremont,  simultaneously  with  his  departure  for  Monterey, 
despatched  W.  H.  Russell,  Esq.,  to  the  United  States,  who,  on  his 
arrival,  reported  the  general  tranquillity  of  the  country,  and  the 
faithful  observance  of  the  capitulation  in  his  own  language. 

"These  terms  the  Californians  had  faithfully  observed  up  to  the 
time  of  my  coming  away,  and  California  presents  a  state  of  satisfied 
quietness,  altogether  different  from  New  Mexico,  (through  which  I 
passed  on  my  return  home,)  or  any  other  part  of  Mexico  which  we 
have  conquered." 

Col.  Fremont  having  had  an  interview  with  Com.  Shubrick  and 
with  Gen.  Kearny,  returned  immediately  to  the  City  of  the  Angels, 
which  he  did  not  again  leave  until  his  departure  for  the  United 
States. 

Col.  Fremont,  when  informed  of  the  commission  from  the  go 
vernment  as  commander-in-chief,  and  of  the  orders  with  which 
Gen.  Kearny  arrived  in  California,  declined,  in  writing,  to  obey 
his  military  orders,  and  continued  to  act  as  "governor  and  com 
mander-in-chief  of  California  ;"  alleging,  as  the  grounds  of  this 
refusal,  his  own  previous  appointment  as  governor  and  commander 
by  Com.  Stockton,  and  the  fact  that  the  authority  conferred  on 
Gen.  Kearny  had  become  obsolete  by  the  force  of  events  not  looked 
to  by  the  government  as  to  happen  until  after  the  arrival  of  Gen. 
Kearny  in  the  territory.  The  chief  of  these  events  was  the 
accomplishment  of  the  conquest  of  California,  which  he  alleged 
had  been  already  achieved  by  Com.  Stockton  and  himself,  before 
the  coming  of  Gen.  Kearny,  and  the  troops  under  his  command. 

(It  is  not  the  purpose  of  these  sketches  to  commemorate  any 
controversy  between  individuals  whose  gallantry  did  honour  to 
their  country,  and  to  the  branch  of  the  service  to  which  each 
belonged.  It  is  enough  here  to  say  that  the  orders  and  achieve 
ments  of  every  prominent  actor  have  been  given  with  entire  im 
partiality,  and,  as  far  as  the  sources  of  information,  common  to  the 


RETURN  TO   THE  UNITED  STATES.  177 


public,  would  admit  of,  in  such  narrative  form  as  will,  possibly, 
admit  of  the  reader's  determining  questionable  points  for  himself.) 

On  the  31st  of  May,  1847,  Col.  Fremont  departed  from  Los 
Angeles,  Upper  California,  (Col.  Richard  B.  Mason,  of  First 
Dragoons,  having  been  left  by  Gen.  Kearny,  as  governor  and 
commander-in-chief,)  to  return  to  the  United  States.  His  original 
engineering  party  of  subordinates,  hardy  backwoodsmen,  trappers, 
&c.,  who  had  encountered  with  him  a  series  of  adventures,  un 
contemplated  on  their  enrolment  for  scientific  purposes  in  1845, 
returned  under  his  charge.  The  party  travelled  with  that  of  Gen. 
Kearny  as  far  as  Fort  Leavenworth,  where  they  arrived  on  the 
22d  of  August,  1847.  Here  charges  of  disobedience  of  orders 
were  preferred  against  Col.  Fremont  by  Gen.  Kearny,  and  a  full 
and  speedy  trial  asked  in  return.  That  trial  is  now  progressing 
at  Washington  City. 

From  Fort  Leavenworth,  Col.  Fremont  paid  a  short  visit  to  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  where  his  fellow  citizens  waited  on  him  with  their 
congratulations  at  his  safe  return,  and  the  brilliancy  of  his  achieve 
ments  on  his  distant  theatre  of  action.  He  was  also  tendered  a 
public  dinner  by  a  large  number  of  the  most  influential  of  all 
parties.  This  he  declined,  and  in  reply  thus  expressed  himself: 

"Placed  in  a  critical  and  delicate  position,  where  imminent 
danger  urged  immediate  action,  and  where  the  principal  difficulty 
lay  in  knowing  full  well  what  must  be  done,  where,  in  a  struggle 
barely  for  the  right  to  live,  every  effort  to  secure  our  safety  in 
volved  unusual  and  grave  responsibilities,  I  could  only  hope  from 
your  forbearance  a  suspension  of  judgment  until,  with  full  pos 
session  of  the  facts,  you  would  be  able  to  determine  under- 
standingly." 

And  he  hastened  on  to  the  seat  of  government. 


178  OPERATIONS  OF  GEN.  KEARNY. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

Gen.  Kearny — Upper  California — Orders  and  Instructions — Departure  from 
Santa  F£— Captain  Johnston's  Journal  of  the  March — Meets  Kir  Carson- 
March  renewed  —  Incidents  of  the  Journey — Visit  to  Copper-mines — 
Apachas — Aztec  Ruins — Casa  de  Montezuma — Pimos  and  Cocomaricopas 
Indians — Provisions  fail — Capture  of  Castro's  Horses,  and  of  the  Mail — • 
Junction  cf  the  Gila  and  Colorado — Desert — Approach  California — Signs  of 
the  Enemy — Letter  to  Com.  Stockton — Capt.  Gillespie — The  Enemy — Battle 
of  San  Pasqual — Death  of  Captains  Johnston  and  Moore,  and  Lieut.  Ham 
mond — Gen.  Kearny,  Lieut  Warner,  Captains  Gillespie  and  Gibson, 
wounded — Com.  Stockton — Sailors  and  Marines — The  Enemy — Battles  of 
8th  and  9th  January — Killed  and  Wounded — Occupation  of  City  of  the 
Angels — Col.  Fremont  joins  Gen.  Kearny — Joint  Circular  with  Com.  Shu- 
brick — Lieut  Col.  Cooke  and  Mormon  Battalion — Proclamation  of  Lieut. 
Emory  and  Despatches — Capt  Tompkin's  Artillery  Company — Col.  Stevci> 
son's  Regiment — Settlements  and  Towns,  &c. — Decree  of  Gen.  Kearny — 
Government  established — Orders  to  take  possession  of  Lower  California — 
Gen.  Kearny  returns  to  United  States — Route  homewards — Dead  Emi 
grants — Arrival — Reception. 

GEN.  KEARNY,  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the  West,  had  been 
directed  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  Wm.  L.  Marcy,  to  proceed 
across  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  Upper  California,  (of  which  for 
various  reasons  it  was  "  deemed  important  that  military  possession 
should  be  taken,")  with  what  force  he  could  spare,  after  taking 
and  securing  the  possession  of  Santa  Fe.  The  orders  and  instruc 
tions  for  the  performance  of  Gen.  Kearny's  part  in  the  attainment 
of  this  purpose  of  "  the  greatest  importance,"  have  been  already 
sketched,  as,  also,  "  the  prompt  and  energetic  manner  in  which 
Gen.  Kearny  conducted  to  a  successful  termination  the  very  diffi 
cult  and  distant  enterprise,  "*  of  the  capture  of  Santa  Fe  and  New 
Mexico. 

Having  made  all  his  arrangements  at  Santa  Fe,  Gen.  Kearny 

*  Report  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  Dec.  5,  1846,  accompanying  President's 
Message. 


CAPT.  JOHNSTON'S  NOTES.  179 


prepared  as  soon  as  possible,  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  the 
executive,  to  set  out  on  another  difficult  and  distant  enterprise. 

The  route  to  Upper  California,  recommended  hy  his  topo 
graphical  engineers,  and  determined  upon  by  Gen.  Kearny,  was 
to  proceed  from  Santa  Fe  down  the  Rio  Grande  about  200  miles, 
thence  to  strike  across  to  the  Gila,  and  to  move  down  that  river 
near  to  its  mouth,  then  to  cross  the  Colorado — and  thence,  keeping 
near  the  Pacific,  to  Monterey. 

On  the  25th  of  September,  1846,  Gen.  Kearny  set  out  on  his 
long  and  exceedingly  interesting  journey.  On  the  next  day  he 
had  left  Major  Sumner's  dragoon  camp,  thirteen  miles  from  Santa 
Fe,  and  was  en  route  with  300  United  States  dragoons  for  California. 
The  dragoon  horses  were  all  sent  back  to  the  United  States,  and 
the  command  all  mounted  on  mules,  and  the  wagons  drawn  by  the 
same  hardy  animals  and  by  oxen,  as  it  was  not  expected  the 
country  through  which  they  were  about  to  pass  would  afford  the 
proper  sustenance  to  the  high-mettled  chargers  of  the  First  Dra 
goons.  Indeed,  the  grass  had  long  been  consumed  for  many  miles 
around  Santa  Fe,  and  forage  had  been  brought  with  great  difficulty 
and  expense  from  a  distance,  or  the  horses  were  picketed  in  dis 
tant  places  where  they  might  find  pasture. 

The  route  of  Gen.  Kearny  has  been  most  ably  and  interestingly 
illustrated  by  the  "  rough  notes"  of  his  late  lamented  and  accom 
plished  aid-de-camp,  Capt.  A.  R.  Johnston,  of  the  First  Dragoons, 
who  was  unfortunately  killed  on  the  6th  December,  1846,  at  the 
battle  of  San  Pasqual.  They  extend  down  to  a  few  hours  before 
his  death,  and  irnbody  a  great  variety  of  curious  and  interesting 
facts.  It  is  from  these  notes,  that  the  latest  and  most  authentic 
account  of  the  protracted  and  fatiguing  march  of  Gen.  Kearny, 
through  an  important  region  of  our  continent,  is  to  be  found. 
From  these  "notes"  it  appears  that  Gen.  Kearny  continued  his 
route  through  many  villages  of  the  New  Mexicans,  along  the 
margin  of  the  Rio  Grande — down  to  Albuquerque,  ("a  town  of 
some  6000  inhabitants" — elsewhere  said,)  where  he  crossed  the 
Rio  Grande,  the  ford  being  about  two  and  a  half  feet  deep.  The 
inhabitable  portion  of  New  Mexico  is  represented  as  confined 


180  MEETING  WITH  KIT  CARSON. 

to  the  immediate  borders  of  the  streams.  The  bottoms  on  the 
Rio  Grande,  down  to  this  point,  about  one  and  a  half  mile  wide, 
and,  elevated  but  a  few  feet  above  the  level  of  the  rapid  and 
regular  streams  of  water,  are  rudely  irrigated,  but  might,  by 
proper  appliances,  be  made  to  support  a  population  ten  times 
greater  than  the  present  number.  The  rains  of  this  country  all 
fall  on  the  mountain-tops,  which  afford  abundant  evidence  of  vol 
canic  action  in  their  mineral  substances.  From  Albuquerque  they 
marched  through  a  country  generally  destitute  of  wood,  and 
altogether  of  hard  grained  timber,  and  with  excessive  heat,  until 
October  8,  when  an  express  reached  them  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  Rio  Grande,  informing  the  General  that  the  Navahoes  had 
attached  the  village  of  Palverdera,  twelve  miles  down  the  river. 
The  alcalde  had  sent  for  help  where  they  were  still  fighting. 
Capt.  Moore's  company  was  forthwith  sent  in  defence  of  the 
Mexicans,  and  orders  were  despatched  back  to  Col.  Doniphan  to 
make  a  campaign  in  the  Navaho  country.  (The  same  which 
he  so  ably  executed.)  Capt.  Moore  next  day  reported  that  the 
Navahoes,  over  100,  had  driven  off  quite  a  quantity  of  stock,  but 
that,  as  both  parties  appeared  to  be  afraid,  no  wounds  were  re 
ceived.  On  the  5th  they  reached  Secoro,  where  they  learned  that 
the  best  road  to  the  river  Gila  was  directly  out  from  the  Rio  Grande 
at  that  place. 

On  the  6th,  a  meeting  took  place,  which  is  best  described  in 
Capt.  Johnston's  own  words:  ' 

"After  marching  about  three  miles,  we  met  Kit  Carson,  direct 
en  express  from  California  with  a  mail  of  public  letters  for  Wash 
ington.  He  informs  us  that  Col.  Fremont  is  probably  civil  and 
military  governor  of  California  ;  and  that  about  forty  days  since, 
Com.  Stockton,  with  the  naval  force,  and  Col.  Fremont,  acting  in 
concert,  commenced  to  revolutionize  that  country,  and  place  it 
under  the  American  flag  ;  that  in  about  ten  days  their  work  was 
done,  and  Carson,  having  received  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  was 
despatched  across  the  country  by  the  Gila,  with  a  party  to  carry 
the  mail.  The  general  told  him  that  he  had  just  passed  over  the 
country  which  we  were  to  traverse,  and  he  wanted  him  to  go 


THE  APACHES  INDIANS.  181 


back  with  him  as  a  guide  ;  he  replied,  that  he  had  pledged  him 
self  to  go  to  Washington,  and  he  could  not  think  of  not  fulfilling 
his  promise.  The  general  told  him  he  would  relieve  him  of  all 
responsibility,  and  place  the  mail  in  the. hands  of  a  safe  person, 
to  carry  it  on.  He  finally  consented,  and  turned  his  face  to  the 
west  again,  just  as  he  was  on  the  eve  of  entering  the  settlements, 
after  his  arduous  trip,  and  when  he  had  set  his  hopes  on  seeing 
his  family.  It  requires  a  brave  man  to  give  up  his  private  feel 
ings  thus  for  the  public  good  ;  but  Carson  is  one  such.  Honour 
to  him  for  it!  Carson  left  California  with  15  men — among  them, 
six  Delaware  Indians — faithful  fellows.  They  had  fifty  animals  ; 
most  of  which  they  left  on  the  road,  or  traded  with  the  Apaches' ; 
giving  two  for  one.  They  were  not  aware  of  the  presence  of  the 
American  troops  in  New  Mexico.  They  counted  upon  feeling 
their  way  along;  and,  in  case  the  Mexicans  were  hostile,  they 
meant  to  start  a  new  outfit  and  run  across  their  country.  When 
they  came  to  the  Copper-mine  Apaches,  they  first  learned  that  an 
American  general  had  possession  of  the  territory  of  New  Mexico.  / 
The  Apaches  were  very  anxious  to  be  friendly  with  the  Ameri 
cans,  and  received  them  very  cordially ;  much  to  their  surprise. 
The  column  moved  on  ten  miles,  and  encamped  under  a  beautiful 
grove  of  cotton-woods  ;  and  the  General  issued  an  order  reducing 
the  command  to  100  men,  taking  C  and  K  companies  with  him, 
and  leaving  B,  G,  and  I  companies  under  Major  Summer's  com 
mand,  in  the  new  Mexican  territory.  The  officers  to  march  with 
the  expedition  are  Gen.  Kearny,  Captains  Turner  and  Johnston  ; 
Major  Swords,  quartermaster ;  Assistant-surgeon  Griffin ;  Lieut. 
Warner  and  Emory,  Topographical  Engineers  ;  Capt.  Moore,  Lieu 
tenants  Hammond  and  Davidson,  First  Dragoons.  Each  company 
has  three  wagons,  with  eight  mules  in  each  ;  and  the  whole  of  the 
other  companies  put  under  requisition  to  supply  C  and  K  compa 
nies  with  the  best  outfits.  It  went  hard  with  some  of  the  company 
commanders  to  part  with  their  fine  teams — the  accumulation  of 
many  years  in  their  companies  ;  but  the  public  service  being  para 
mount,  they  submitted  cheerfully.  The  Apaches  came  to  us  to 
day,  and  gave  us  four  young  men  as  guides." 
Q 


182  PASSING  THE  WATER-SHED. 


Next  day,  they  took  leave  of  their  companions  in  arms,  and  on 
the  day  after  had  gone  near  200  miles  down  the  Rio  Grande,  from 
Santa  Fe,  but  the  stream  was  still  unfit  for  navigation.  They 
were  then  near  the  commencement  of  the  Jornada  del  Muerto  of 
100  miles  without  water,  (subsequently  passed  over  by  Col.  Doni- 
phan.) 

The  mountains  at  this  point  of  their  route  appeared  to  become 
more  lofty,  and  the  "back-bone"  of  North  America,  to  have  been 
split  open  along  here,  and  all  the  igneous  rocks  to  have  been  thrust 
up  in  general  parallelism,  without  making  a  continuous  range  along 
this  stream,  from  which  the  waters  of  the  Rio  Grande  run  directly 
south,  while  those  of  the  Arkansas,  the  Gila,  and  other  streams 
flow  east  and  west. 

On  the  9th,  the  mules  began  to  give  out  in  the  teams,  and  the 
general  determined  to  remain  in  camp,  and  send  to  Major  Sumner, 
for  mules  to  take  back  the  wagons  and  other  property  not  needed 
in  packing.  Carson  reported  the  country  as  worse  rather  than 
better  in  front.  Next  morning  they  had  frost  and  ice  in  camp. 
Two  New  Mexicans  here  brought  mules  for  sale,  representing 
they  had  them  from  the  Apache  Indians  in  trading.  As  this  was 
,  contrary  to  the  laws  of  the  territory,  Gen.  Kearny  confiscated  all 
the  mules  they  said  they  had  gotten  from  the  Apaches  and  sent 
them  off.  They  said  they  knew  it  was  contrary  to  law,  and  were 
willing  to  submit.  The  general  gave  them  a  paper,  stating  what 
he  had  done,  and  the  reasons  for  it.  They  then  asked  for  license 
to  trade  with  the  Apaches,  which  was  granted  them,  and  de 
parted. 

On  the  13th,  Lieut.  Ingalls  arrived  with  the  pack-saddles,  and 
the  mail  containing  general  orders  Nos.  30  to  36,  and  letters 
which  required  answering.  Here  the  door  was  closed  to  future 
communication  with  the  United  States,  as  they  passed  into  the 
Apache  country.  On  the  15th,  they  took  a  final  departure  from 
the  Rio  Grande,  and  its  rugged  gravel  hills  and  harsh  bottom- 
grass,  tasting  of  salt,  and  ascended,  at  once,  near  200  feet,  to  an 
elevated  plain,  deeply  cut  with  the  canons  of  the  streams.  In 
this  day's  march,  they  saw  a  canon  (or  deep  cut)  of  fifty  feet  deep 


ABANDONED  COPPER  MINES.  183 

and  twenty  wide,  affording  a  passage  for  a  stream,  which,  for  a 
short  distance,  was  a  fine  leaping  mountain  stream,  with  over 
hanging  trees,  and  fish  playing  in  its  waters,  but  then  sank  in  the 
sand  and  all  became  arid  again.  Entered  now  upon  a  more  plea 
sant  country,  as  they  approached  the  lesser  peaks  of  the  Sierra  de 
los  Mimbres,  covered  with  trees,  shrubbery  and  grass.  A  view  from 
a  peak  near  their  camp  is  thus  described: — "The  view  presented 
was  very  grand ;  the  valley  of  the  Rio  Grande,  widening  to  the 
south  as  far  as  El  Paso,  and  twenty  to  thirty  miles  wide,  covered 
with  grass,  lies  below  ;  the  peaks  of  mountains  standing  around 
in  the  distance,  like  the  frame  of  a  picture.  It  is  evident  at  a 
glance,  that  the  lower  part  of  New  Mexico  is  by  far  the  most 
valuable." 

The  visit  to  the  copper  mines  claims,  from  its  interest,  insertion 
entire,  as  also  does  the  next  day's  notes. 

"  October  19. — Visited  the  copper  mines,  and  examined  the  old 
excavations.  The  veins  of  sulphuret  of  copper  run  through  a 
whitish  silicious  rock,  like  the  blue  veins  running  through  white 
marble ;  they  vary  in  their  knees,  but  traverse  the  whole  sub 
stance.  The  rock  breaks  easily  ;  and  the  pick  appears  to  be  the 
only  tool  used  formerly.  Occasional  veins  of  pure  copper,  very 
yellow  from  the  quantity  of  gold  it  contains,  traverse  the  whole 
mass.  I  saw  in  the  rollers,  lying  over  the  mine,  masses  of  the 
blue  limestone,  supposed  to  be  cretaceous  ;  the  water  had  filled 
many  of  the  -abandoned  chambers  of  the  mine ;  in  others,  the  flies 
had  perched  themselves  in  great  numbers  to  pass  the  winter. 
The  fort  which  was  built  to  defend  the  mines,  was  built  in  shape 
of  an  equilateral  triangle,  with  round  towers  at  the  corners ;  it 
was  built  of  adobe,  with  walls  four  feet  thick.  The  fort  was  still 
in  tolerable  preservation ;  some  remains  of  the  furnaces  were  left, 
and  piles  of  cinders ;  but  no  idea  could  be  formed  of  the  manner 
of  smelting  the  ore,  except,  that  charcoal,  in  quantities,  was  used. 
Several  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  ore  had  been  got  ready  for  smelt 
ing  when  the  place  was  abandoned.  McKnight,  who  was  for 
nine  years  a  prisoner  in  Chihuahua,  made  a  fortune  here,  and 
bandoned  the  mines  in  consequence  of  the  Apache  Indians  cut- 


184  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY. 

ting  off' his  supplies.  At  one  time,  they  took  eighty  pack-muks 
from  him,  (authority,  Carson.)  The  mine  is  very  extensive,  and, 
doubtless,  immensely  valuable.  Water  is  abundant,  and  pasture 
fine,  and  many  lands  which  will  furnish  breadstuff's,  by  cultiva 
tion.  Wood  is  very  abundant,  and  particularly  in  the  vicinity. 
Leaving  the  copper  mines,  the  rocky  masses  soon  show  iron  in 
the  greatest  abundance ;  then,  going  west,  we  came  to  the  blue 
limestone,  standing  vertical,  ranging  south,  and  bent  so  as  to  lie 
level  west.  Through  the  seams  of  this  limestone,  some  igneous 
rocks  had  been  interjected,  and  occasional  masses  of  iron  ore, 
similar  to  that  seen  on  the  Blue  and  False  Washita  rivers.  Then 
we  came  to  a  mountain  mass  of  the  same  rock  as  of  the  copper 
mines.  From  this,  westward,  we  came  upon  an  amygdaloid  of 
all  sorts  of  igneous  rocks.  The  hills  were  not  very  lofty,  so  that, 
gradually,  we  passed  the  great  back-bone  of  America  without  per 
ceiving  it — the  dividing  ridge  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific. 
The  general  set  out  to  march  fifteen  miles  to  San  Vicentia  Spring ; 
but  finding  no  grass,  he  came  on,  expecting  to  find  water — a 
Spanish  guide  said  at  three  leagues,  but  it  proved  to  be  fifteen 
miles  further,  where  we  all  arrived  after  night.  Before  we  left 
the  copper  mines,  some  Apaches  showed  themselves  ;  and  as  we 
came  off,  they  rode  upon  a  hill,  made  a  smoke,  and  as  we  got 
opposite  them  on  the  road,  commenced  calling  out  to  us,  *  not  to 
be  afraid,  but  come  on.'  We  replied,  *  It  is  you  that  are  afraid. 
Why  don't  you  come  on  ?'  They  then  approached,  but  motioned 
us  all  back  but  the  guide,  Carson,  until  he  had  a  talk  and  satisfied 
them.  Some  of  our  mules  gave  out  to-day.  Three  Apaches 
came  to  camp — distance,  thirty  miles. 

"  October  20. — The  Apaches  came  to  us  this  morning,  as  we  did 
not  start  until  late.  Red  Sleeve  came  with  fifteen  or  twenty  per 
sons,  some  women  ;  they  ride  small,  but  fine,  horses.  The  high 
roads  leading  from  this  mountain  to  Sonora  and  California, 
show  whence  they  came  ;  they  are  partly  clothed  like  the  Span 
iards,  with  wide  drawers,  moccasins,  and  leggins  to  the  knees ; 
they  carry  a  knife,  frequently  in  the  right  leggin,  on  the  outside  ; 
their  moccasins  have  turned-up  square  toes,  their  hair  is  long,  and 


THE  APACHES  INDIANS.  183 

mostly  they  have  rfo  head-dress ;  some  have  hats,  some  fantastic 
helmets  ;  they  have  some  guns,  but  are  mostly  armed  with  lances 
and  bows  and  arrows,  their  lances  pointed  with  stone  points. 
Carson  remarked,  yesterday,  that  he  never  knew  how  fine  a  wea 
pon  the  bow  and  arrow  was,  until  he  had  them  fired  at  him  in  the 
night ;  at  that  time  they  are  more  sure  than  firearms,  for  they  are 
fired  by  the  feel  rather  than  the  arms.  The  vegetation  westward 
from  the  copper  mines  grows  thinner  until  we  get  to  the  Sierra 
del  Buno,  which  is  a  mountain,  covered  black  with  forest  growth ; 
the  pine  is  found  here,  live  oak,  three  kinds,  the  gama  and  other 
fine  grasses,  some  resembling  timothy.  A  rain  storm  passed  by 
the  heads  of  the  Gila  last  night ;  it  is  the  first  we  have  seen  since 
we  left  Santa  Fe  ;  although  high  winds  and  heavy  lightning  beto 
kened  distant  storms  once  or  twice  before,  we  have  not  yet  been 
sprinkled  upon.  Trading  mules  is  dull  work,  with  the  Apaches. 
Red  Sleeve,  Black  Knife  and  Lasady,  are  the  three  principal 
chiefs  of  the  Apaches  on  the  west  of  the  Del  Norte.  Somez 
is  the  head-man  of  those  on  the  east  of  the  Del  Norte.  There 
is  another  band  about  south-west  of  this  ;  on  the  Panqatong  moun 
tain  is  another  band.  The  Apaches  near  Taos  are  of  the  same 
stock  with  these — their  whole  people  have  not  been  together  for  a 
long  time.  The  general  gave  Red  Sleeve  and  two  other  chiefs 
papers  to  show  he  had  talked  with  them,  and  that  they  had  pro 
mised  perpetual  friendship  with  the  Americans  ;  they  seemed  all 
anxious  to  conciliate  the  Americans,  and  they  did  not  forget  the 
Shawnees ;  the  copper  mines  are  in  their  country,  which  lies 
north  of  the  32°  of  north  latitude.  Marched  at  12  M.,  and  de 
scended  a  narrow,  winding  valley  with  a  brisk  running  stream, 
two  or  three  feet  wide,  meandering  through  it,  with  a  few  trees 
occasionally,  and  very  tall  grass.  We  found  two  small  patches 
where  the  Apaches  had  made  corn  ;  the  hills  were  high  on  each 
side,  composed  of  rugged  masses  of  volcanic  rock,  and  very  few 
trees.  We  followed  this  creek  for  five  miles,  and  fell  upon  the 
famous  Gila,  a  beautiful  mountain  stream,  about  thirty  feet  wide, 
and  a  foot  deep  on  the  shallows,  with  clear  water  and  pebbly 
bed,  fringed  with  trees  and  hemmed  in  by  mountains  ;  the  bqttom 

Q2 


186  DESCENDING  THE   GILA. 

not  more  than  a  mile  wide.  The  signs  of  leaver,  the  bear,  the 
deer,  and  the  \urkey,  besides  the  tracks  of  herds  of  Indian  horses, 
were  plain  to  be  seen  on  the  sand.  We  came  down  the  river 
about  two  miles  and  a  half  more,  about  south,  and  encamped  at  the 
head  of  one  of  its  canons,  preparatory  to  a  long  journey  over 
rocky  hills  to-morrow.  Northward  from  where  we  struck  the 
river,  is  an  open  country,  lying  west  of  a  very  high  mountain, 
called  the  Gila  Mountain,  in  which  it  is  said  the  Salt  forks  also 
head.  Our  camp  was  well  supplied  with  fine  fish  from  the  river, 
resembling,  a  little,  the  black  bass  ;  its  flesh  was  not  firm,  but  very 
delicate.  The  California  quail  abounds  in  the  bottoms.  A  new  sort 
of  sycamore  tree  made  its  appearance  here ;  it  has  a  bark  pre 
cisely  like  our  own  sycamore  tree,  or  button-wood,  and  a  leaf 
resembling  the  maple ;  the  leaves  are  now  yellow  with  the  frost, 
as  they  are  of  the  most  deciduous  plants.  Found  some  of  the 
fruit  of  the  black  walnut  of  this  country ;  it  is  about  half  the  size 
of  our  black  walnut,  and  not  rough  on  the  outside  as  ours,  but 
shows  the  veins  of  the  seams  of  the  outer  bark ;  the  roses,  the 
hops,  mosquits,  and  poison-oaks  looked  familiar,  and  some  other 
plants  known  in  the  United  States,  names  unknown.  Just  as  we 
were  leaving  camp  to-day,  an  old  Apache  chief  came  in  and  ha 
rangued  the  general,  thus : — '  You  have  taken  Santa  Fe  ;  let  us 
go  on  and  take  Chihuahua  and  Sonora ;  we  will  go  with  you. 
You  fight  for  the  soul,  we  fight  for  plunder,  so  we  will  agree  per 
fectly  :  their  people  are  bad  Christians,  let  us  give  them  a  good 
thrashing,'  &c." 

The  route  lay  onwards  through  a  wild  country  of  occasional  ferti 
lity  and  sterility — mountains,  and  valleys,  and  canons — crossing  and 
recrossing  the  Gila — the  San  Francisco  passed,  as  also  the  San  Pedro, 
&c. — meeting  frequently  parties  of  Apache  Indians,  but  unable  to 
bring  them  to  an  interview  at  camp  in  any  number,  &c.,  until  the 
10th  of  November,  and  here  the  "notes"  are  given  in  detail : 

"November  10. — Marched  about  eight  o'clock  ;  and  after  march 
ing  six  miles,  still  passing  plains  which  had  once  been  occupied, 
we  saw  to  our  left  the  "Casa  de  Montezuma."  I  rode  to  it,  and 
found  the  remains  of  the  walls  of  four  buildings ;  and  the  piles  of 


THE  CASA  DE  MONTEZUMA.  187 


earth  showing  where  many  others  had  been.  One  of  the  build 
ings  was  still  quite  complete,  as  a  ruin ;  the  others  had  all  crum 
bled,  but  a  few  pieces  of  low  broken  wail.  The  large  casa  was 
fifty  feet  by  forty,  and  had  been  four  stories  high ;  but  the  floors 
and  roof  had  long  since  been  burnt  out.  The  charred  ends  of  the 
cedar  joist  were  still  in  the  wall.  I  examined  them,  and  found  that 
they  had  not  been  cut  with  a  steel  instrument.  The  joists  were 
round  sticks,  about  four  feet  in  diameter.  There  were  four  en 
trances — north,  south,  east,  and  west — the  doors  about  four  feet  by 
two ;  the  rooms  as  below,  and  had  the  same  arrangement  on  each 
story.  There  was  no  sign  of  a  fire-place  in  the  building.  The 
lower  story  was  filled  with  rubbish,  and  above  it  was  open  to  the 
sky.  The  walls  were  four  feet  thick  at  the  bottom,  and  had  a 
curved  inclination  inwards  to  the  top.  The  house  was  built  of  a 
sort  of  white  earth  and  pebbles,  probably  containing  lime,  which 
abounded  on  the  ground  adjacent.  The  walls  had  been  smoothed 
outside,  and  plastered  inside  ;  and  the  surface  still  remained  firm, 
although  it  was  evident  they  had  been  exposed  to  great  heat  from 
the  fire.  Some  of  the  rooms  did  not  open  to  all  the  rest,  but  had 
a  hole,  a  foot  in  diameter,  to  look  through ;  in  other  places  were 
smaller  holes.  About  two  hundred  yards  from  this  building  was 
a  mound,  in  a  circle  a  hundred  yards  around  the  mound.  The 
centre  was  a  hollow,  twenty-five  yards  in  diameter,  with  two 
vamps  or  slopes  going  down  to  its  bottom.  It  was  probably  a  well, 
now  partly  filled  up.  A  similar  one  was  seen  near  Mount  Dallas. 
A  few  yards  further,  in  the  same  direction,  northward,  was  a  ter 
race,  one  hundred  yards  by  seventy,  about  five  feet  high.  Upon 
this  was  a  pyramid,  about  eight  feet  high,  twenty-five  yards  square 
at  top.  From  this,  sitting  on  my  horse,  I  could  overlook  the  vast 
plain  lying  north-east  and  west,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Gila.  The 
ground  in  view  was  about  fifteen  miles — all  of  which,  it  would 
seem,  had  been  irrigated  by  the  waters  of  the  Gila.  I  picked  up 
a  broken  crystal  of  quartz  in  one  of  these  piles.  Leaving  the 
casa,  I  turned  towards  the  Pimos,  and  travelling  at  random  over 
the  plain,  (now  covered  with  mosquit,)  the  piles  of  earth  and  pot 
tery  showed  for  hours  in  every  direction.  I  also  found  the  remains 


188  THE  PIMOS  INDIANS. 


of  a  sicia,  which  followed  the  range  of  houses  for  miles.  It  had 
been  very  large.  When  I  got  to  camp,  I  found  them  on  good 
grass,  and  in  communication  with  the  Pimos,  who  came  out  with 
a  frank  welcome.  Their  answer  to  Carson,  when  he  went  up  and 
asked  for  provisions,  was,  *  Bread  is  to  eat,  not  to  sell — take  what  you 
want.'  The  general  asked  a  Pimo  who  made  the  house  I  had  seen. 
'  It  is  the  Casa  de  Montezuma,'  said  he.  '  It  was  built  by  the  son 
of  the  most  beautiful  woman  who  once  dwelled  in  yon  mountain. 
She  was  fair,  and  all  the  handsome  men  came  to  court  her,  but  in 
vain.  When  they  came,  they  paid  tribute,  and  out  of  this  small 
store  she  fed  all  people  in  times  of  famine,  and  it  did  not  diminish. 
At  last,  as  she  lay  asleep,  a  drop  of  rain  fell  upon  her  navel,  and 
she  became  pregnant,  and  brought  forth  a  boy,  who  was  the  builder 
of  all  these  houses.'  He  seemed  unwilling  to  talk  about  them ; 
but  said  there  were  plenty  more  of  them  to  the  north,  south,  west, 
&c.  He  said  when  he  first  knew  this  casa,  it  was  in  better  preser 
vation  ;  but  that  it  had  been  burnt  too  long  ago  for  any  of  them  to 
remember.  I  showed  him  the  hieroglyphic,  but  he  did  not  under 
stand  it.  Some  other  Pirnos  and  Cocomaricopas  arrived,  and  mes 
sengers  were  sent  to  their  village  to  buy  water-melons  and  provi 
sions,  which  soon  came,  although  it  was  several  miles.  They 
wanted  white  beads  for  what  they  had  to  sell,  and  knew  the  value 
of  money.  Seeing  us  eating,  the  interpreter  told  the  general  he 
had  tasted  the  liquor  of  Sonora  and  New  Mexico,  and  would  like 
to  taste  a  sample  of  that  of  the  United  States.  The  dog  had  a 
liquorish  tooth,  and  when  given  a  drink  of  French  brandy,  pro 
nounced  it  better  than  any  he  had  ever  seen  or  tasted.  The  Mari- 
copa  messenger  came  to  ask  the  general  what  his  business  ^as, 
and  where  he  was  going  ?  He  said  his  people  were  at  peace  with 
all  the  world,  except  some  of  their  neighbours,  the  Apaches,  and 
they  did  not  desire  any  more  enemies.  He  was  of  course  told  to 
say  to  his  chief  that  our  object  was  merely  to  pass  peaceably 
through  their  country  ;  that  we  had  heard  a  great  deal  of  the 
Pimos,  and  knew  them  to  be  a  good  people ;  we  were  all  struck 
with  their  unassumed  ease  and  confidence  in  approaching  our  camp 
—not  like  the  Apaches,  who  bayed  at  us  like  their  kindred  wolves, 


CROSSING  A  DESERT.  189 

./X/%rN*%/N/N/^yV^/N/^^/VV^^^/VV^^^^ 

until  the  smell  of  tobacco  and  other  (to  them)  agreeable  things  gave 
them  assurance  enough  to  approach  us.  The  Pimos  and  Coco- 
maricopas  live  alongside  of  each  other,  but  are  a  distinct  people, 
speaking  different  languages  ;  the  latter  once  lived  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Gila.  The  Pimos  have  long  lived  at  their  present  abode, 
and  are  known  to  all  the  trappers  as  a  virtuous  and  industrious 
people.  They  and  the  Maricopas  number  over  two  thousand  souls. 
At  the  river  I  saw  a  cinder,  which  might  have  been  from  the  smelt 
ing  of  some  ore." 

After  a  short  rest  here,  they  prepared  to  cross  the  Tesotal,  a 
desert  of  forty  miles,  without  water  or  grass.  The  animals  were 
brought  up  to  a  well  dug  by  the  dragoons,  and  given  as  much 
water  as  they  would  drink,  some  of  them  swilling  enormously,  as 
if  in  anticipation  of  privation.  This  desert  passed,  their  progress 
lay  along  the  table-land  until  they  gradually  got  into  the  bottom  of 
the  Gila  again,  at  the  point  of  Big  Horn  Mountain,  on  the  15th  of 
November.  Here  their  supply  of  beef  gave  out,  and  they  were 
reduced  to  beans,  corn,  and  the  flesh  of  their  horses. 

Capt.  Johnston's  own  words,  as  the  interest  of  the  narrative 
quickens,  are  resorted  to. 

(At  the  Pimos  village,  Gen.  Kearny  had  heard  a  rumour  of  a 
force  being  raised  in  Sonora  to  interrupt  him ;  and  by  Lieut. 
Emory's  capture  of  the  mail,  on  the  22d,  further  particulars  were 
obtained.) 

"  November  22. — Marched  at  the  usual  hour,  and  continued 
down  the  Gila.  On  the  left  bank,  the  first  eight  or  nine  miles,  the 
road  was  rough  ;  passed  through  a  canon.  The  canon  was  wide; 
but  we  had  to  clamber  along  the  edge  of  the  hills.  In  many 
places  the  road  was  insecure,  from  its  being  a  long  declivity. 
After  leaving  this  canon,  we  found  ourselves  in  a  bottom,  which 
lay  to  the  west,  and  which  proved  to  be  the  delta  between  the 
Gila  and  Colorado.  We  inarched  about  twenty-one  miles,  and 
found  ourselves  near  the  junction  of  those  rivers.  We  discovered 
the  greatest  abundance  of  recent  signs  of  horses,  and  began  to 
think,  in  truth,  that  Gen.  Castro  may  have  returned  from  Sonora 
with  a  large  mounted  force,  to  regain  possession  of  California. 


190  GEN.   CASTRO'S  HORSES. 

The  signs  proved  to  be  very  fresh,  and  indicated  that,  to  whomso 
ever  they  belonged,  they  were  not  more  than  half  a  day  off.  The 
speculations,  of  course,  were  various,  and  all  the  knowledge  of 
sign-studying  put  in  practice.  Carson  went  down  the  river,  and 
discovered  fresh  signs  of  fires  of  half-a-dozen  messes,  with  no  mi 
litary  regularity,  and  a  trail  coming  from  the  crossing  half  a  mile 
•wide,  indicating  a  great  number  of  loose  animals.  No  trail  could 
be  discovered  leading  away  from  this  place.  The  signs  of  very 
few  men  could  be  seen.  A  woman's  track  was  found,  a  dead  colt, 
colt  tracks,  and,  finally,  straggling  men  were  seen.  Fires  were 
discovered  in  the  bottom,  up  the  Gila  ;  and  Lieut.  Emory  went 
with  twenty  men  to  reconnoitre  them,  and  found  the  camp  of  a 
party  of  Spaniards  from  California,  with  400  or  500  animals, 
going  to  Sonora.  He  brought  some  of  them  to  camp,  and,  as 
usual,  they  lied  so  much  that  we  could  get  very  little  out  of  them. 
One  of  them  told  us,  in  confidence,  that  we  would  find  800  men 
in  arms  at  the  Pueblo,  opposed  to  the  Americans ;  and  that  a  party 
was  at  San  Diego,  friendly  to  the  United  States,  of  200 ;  and  that 
three  ships  of  war,  he  heard,  were  at  San  Diego,  and  advised  us 
to  be  on  our  guard  as  we  advanced.  One  of  the  others  said  the 
Mexicans  were  quiet  at  the  Pueblo,  and  that  the  Americans  had 
quiet  possession  of  all  the  country.  They  were  dismissed  for  the 
night,  and  the  general  determined  not  to  lose  so  good  a  chance  to 
get  fresh  animals.  Camp  on  dry  grass  in  the  sand-hills. 

"November  23. — The  Mexicans  came  to  camp  on  poor  animals, 
and  said  they  had  no  very  good  ones.  They  evidently  are  dis 
posed  to  be  shy  and  uncommunicative.  One  of  them,  who  re 
ported  in  confidence  about  the  800  men  at  Angeles,  tells  us  that 
they  had  killed  several  Americans  at  the  Puebla.  They  say  the 
Jornada  is  fifty  miles  without  water ;  that  they  were  lost  upon  it, 
and  found  water  half  way,  by  accident.  One  of  them  was  caught 
by  Lieut.  Emory  with  a  bundle  of  letters,  some  of  which  were  to 
Gen.  Castro— one  giving  an  account  of  the  rising  of  the  Mexicans, 
and  placing  one  Flores  at  their  head  at  the  Pueblo  de  los  Angeles. 
Another  letter  to  a  different  person,  was  to  the  effect  that  eighty 
Mexican  cavalry  had  chased  400  Americans  at  the  ravines  between 


JUNCTION   OF  THE  GILA  AND  COLORADO.  191 


the  Puebla  and  San  Pedro,  and  had  driven  them  back,  and  had 
captured  a  cannon  called  the  Teazer.  Their  letters  being  opened, 
were  re-sealed  by  Capt.  Turner,  and  all  returned  to  the  man,  who 
was  discharged  with  them.  These  fellows  tell  various  stories 
about  the  ownership  of  the  horses.  They  acknowledge  that  a 
part  of  them  belong  to  Gen.  Castro.  We  are  encamped  one  and 
a  half  miles  south  of  the  junction  of  the  Gila  and  Colorado.  These 
two  rivers  join  together,  and  run  through  a  stone  hill,  through 
which  they  have  broken  a  passage,  although  there  are  bottom 
lands  on  either  side  of  the  hill,  by  which  they  may  once  have 
flowed.  The  place  is  remarkable  ;  and,  being  the  junction  of  two 
important  rivers,  (both  of  which  are  to  a  certain  degree  navigable 
— this  point  being  also  a  point  in  the  route  from  Sonora  to  Califor 
nia,)  may  one  day  fill  a  large  space  in  the  world's  history.  The 
Colorado  disappears  from  here  in  a  vast  bottom.  The  last  we  can 
see  of  its  cotton-woods  is  in  the  south-west,  beyond  which  lies  a 
low  range  of  mountains — whether  on  the  right  or  left  bank,  is  not 
plain — probably  on  the  right  bank.  Toiling  about  through  the 
sand-hills,  in  thick  boots,  one  is  convinced  that,  to  perform  a  jour 
ney  on  foot  in  this  country,  a  moccasin  with  a  thick  but  elastic 
sole  is  far  preferable  to  the  boot.  The  condition  of  our  animals  is 
sad  enough  to  take  the  Jornada.  Poor  animals  that  have  come 
with  us  from  the  United  States  will  lay  their  bones  on  the  desert. 
Some  of  the  few  horses  we  brought  through,  are  not  able  to  go  on. 
An  animal  fat  and  well  rested  in  New  Mexico  could  have  come 
well  enough." 

By  the  38th,  they  had  with  great  suffering  passed  the  Jornada, 
or  desert,  of  about  ninety  miles.  Many  of  the  animals  they  were 
obliged  to  leave  to  perish  there. 

The  horses  of  which  Capt.  Johnston  gives  details,  afterwards 
were  found  to  have  been  sent  by  the  Californians,  under  a  small 
escort,  thus  far  on  their  way  for  the  benefit  of  Mexican  reinforce 
ments  to  be  raised  in  Sonora.  When  taken,  they  had  scarce  re 
covered  from  crossing  the  Jornada,  and  returning  over  the  same, 
made  the  capture  almost  useless. 

On  the  30th,  the  men  killed  a  horse  for  food.     On  inspection, 


192  HORSES  GIVE  UP. 


they  were  found  all  wellnigh  naked — some  of  them  barefoot  and 
much  weatherbeaten,  but  no  signs  of  quailing  in  their  swarthy 
sun-burnt  faces. 

The  narrative  of  the  four  next  days  we  give  in  the  words  of 
Capt.  Johnston. 

" December  1. — The  first  day  of  winter;  we  left  camp  at  the 
usual  hour,  and  found  the  air  cold  and  chilly.  The  mountain 
peaks  on  the  coast-range  are  covered  with  snow  slightly.  The 
whole  of  yesterday  these  peaks  were  covered  with  clouds,  which 
drifted  off  in  loose  masses  over  the  desert.  This  morning  most  of 
the  clouds  had  disappeared,  and  a  strong  wind  blew  from  the  west. 
Our  route  for  the  day  was  devious,  through  narrow  passes,  with 
out  any  great  elevation — a  bad  road  for  our  little  howitzers,  and 
impassable,  without  work  for  wagons.  We  marched  eighteen 
miles,  and  encamped  at  the  Vegas  San  Felipe,  near  the  deserted 
Indian  village ;  the  rocks  were  mostly  of  mica-slate  and  granite. 
The  water  of  the  Vegas  is  apparently  fresh,  but  the  adjacent 
swamp  is  salt,  and  the  grass  bad  for  animals,  especially  at  this 
season — the  grass,  the  long,  salty  grass  of  the  Del  Norte,  and  the 
soda  grass. 

"  December  2. — Marched  at  the  usual  hour.  Our  animals  hav 
ing  spent  a  bad  night,  from  the  cold  and  bad  grass,  the  few  remain 
ing  horses,  except  one,  gave  out  to-day,  having  been  purged  by 
the  grass,  and  very  much  weakened.  Our  route  was  now  over  a 
rolling  country.  About  six  miles  we  met  some  Mexicans  escaping 
out  of  the  country,  with  women  and  children ;  we  allowed  them 
to  pass  free.  They  informed  us  of  the  existence  of  war  still  in 
this  country,  so  that  we  count  now  upon  meeting  the  enemy.  It 
appears  that  there  are  no  armed  forces  opposed  to  each  other  in 
the  field ;  but  that,  generally,  parties  of  California  rancheros  can 
be  found  in  every  quarter.  We  will  probably  have  a  long  time 
with  an  unseen  enemy,  with  no  pitched  battles.  ATrived  at  War 
ner's  ranch,  very  unexpectedly  to  them.  This  point  is  about  sixty 
miles  from  San  Diego,  and  perhaps  eighty  from  the  Pueblo.  It  is 
occupied  by  an  American  from  Connecticut,  who  settled  in  this 
country  and  became  naturalized,  married,  &c.  He  is  now  on  the 


WARNER'S  SETTLEMENT.  193 


main  route  leading  to  Sonora,  and  of  course  is  very  much  exposed 
to  both  parties.  He  is  now  said  to  be  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of 
the  Americans.  Our  approach  to  California  improves  to-day,  and 
we  came  part  of  the  day  under  the  shade  of  fine  live-oak  trees, 
and,  on  the  mountain-tops,  clumps  of  lofty  pines.  As  we  came  to 
Warner's,  we  got  upon  the  western  slope  of  mountains ;  and  here 
nature  had  made  pretty  successful  efforts  to  clothe  her  nakedness ; 
the  shrubs  and  trees  almost  hid  the  rocks  of  the  mountains,  and 
the  hills  had  grass  in  abundance,  but  still  nothing  like  the  luxu 
riant  growth  of  the  prairies  of  Missouri,  but  doubtless  a  most  en 
chanting  sight  when  it  is  green,  to  one  who  has  just  crossed  the 
desert.  We  found  Warner's  a  place  which  would  be  considered 
a  poor  location  in  the  United  States,  with  a  hot  and  a  cold  spring 
on  his  place — a  good  place  for  stock,  but  bad  for  grain,  one  would 
think.  We  are  told  wheat  yields  thirty-fold.  The  labour  is  per 
formed  by  California  Indians,  who  are  stimulated  to  work  by  $3 
per  month  and  repeated  floggings.  We  encamped  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  west  of  the  warm  spring.  Having  heard  of  a  herd  of  mules 
fifteen  miles  hence,  belonging  to  Flores,  the  insurgent  chief,  Lieut. 
Davidson,  with  twenty-five  men,  was  despatched,  with  Carson  and 
Saunders,  to  see  if  we  could  get  a  remount ;  they  started  at  dark. 
A  Mr.  Stokes,  an  Englishman,  who  lives  fifteen  miles  hence,  came 
to  camp,  and  gave  us  information  that  Com.  Stockton  was  at  Diego, 
with  the  larger  part  of  his  naval  force ;  that  he  had  to  remain 
neutral.  A  letter  was  sent  to  Com.  Stockton  ;  and  it  was  deter 
mined  to  remain  at  this  point  until  morning,  and  determine  whe 
ther  to  march  upon  San  Diego  or  the  Pueblo,  or  to  halt  on  the 
Sonora  outlet,  until  it  was  known  what  was  to  be  done  with  the 
American  prisoners  said  to  be  in  the  hands  of  the  rancheros.  We 
hear  that  the  Californians  are  very  savage,  killing  any  one  of  their 
people  whom  they  suspect  of  treachery,  and  forcing  those  who 
are  unwilling  to  join  them.  We  were  struck  with  the  fact,  that  a 
furious  wind  blew  in  our  faces  as  we  approached  the  coast-range ; 
but,  after  crossing  it,  we  found  all  calm,  and  were  told  that  there 
had  been  no  wind. 

R  13 


194  STOKES'S   RANCHOS. 


"December  3.  Lieut.  Davidson  and  Carson  returned  about  noon, 
with  a  large  gang  of  tame  and  wild  animals,  most  of  which  are 
said  to  belong  to  Flores,  the  Californian  general.  After  them, 
came  a  party  of  French,  English,  and  a  Chilian,  claiming  their 
riding  animals,  as  they  were  going  out  of  the  country,  which  the 
General  gave  them.  Many  of  the  animals  from  the  herd  were 
put  into, service,  and  arrangements  made  to  secure  the  balance  by 
driving  them  into  some  safe  place  in  the  mountain.  Lay  by  for 
the  rest  of  the  day  ;  did  not  have  time  to  examine  the  agua 
caliente,  but  it  is  said  to  be  remarkable. 

"December  4.  Marched  at  9,  and  took  the  route  for  San  Diego  to 
communicate  with  the  naval  forces,  and  to  establish  our  depot,  not 
knowing  yet  in  what  state  we  would  find  the  country.  Marched 
15  miles  in  a  rain,  cold  and  disagreeable,  and  encamped  at  Santa 
Isabella,  a  former  ranch  of  the  San  Diego  mission,  now,  by  hook 
or  crook,  in  the  possession  of  an  Englishman  named  Stokes.  Here 
hospitality  was  held  out  to  us.  Stokes  having  gone  to  San  Diego, 
we  ate  heartily  of  stewed  and  roast  mutton  and  tortillas.  We 
heard  of  a  party  of  Californians  of  80  men  encamped  a  distance 
from  this ;  but  the  informant  varied  from  16  to  30  miles  in  his 
account,  rendering  it  too  uncertain  to  make  a  dash  on  them  in  a 
dark,  stormy  night,  so  we  slept  till  morning." 

Here  end  the  "  rough  notes"  of  a  gallant  soldier.  His  profes 
sion  called  upon  him  to  offer  up  his  life  at  any  moment  the  ser 
vice  of  his  country  required  it.  Here  he  dropped  the  pen  he  had 
used  with  such  ability,  to  draw  his  sword  in  combat — from  whence 
he  never  returned  to  cheer  his  sorrowing  companions-in-arms,  in 
whose  memory  he  ever  lives,  as  he  will  in  that  of  his  country ; 
to  use  the  language  of  Gen.  Kearny — "  a  loss  to  his  commander, 
to  his  regiment,  and,  more  than  all,  to  his  country." 

The  rapid  summary  of  the  route  given  in  Gen.  Kearny's  offi 
cial  despatches  supplies  the  latitude  of  several  places,  and  other 
omissions  above,  while  conciseness  and  importance  affords  no 
excuse  for  its  omission  ;  the  narrative  is  therefore  continued  in  the 
language  of  the  "  official"  despatches. 


GEN.  KEARNY'S  REPORT.  195 

HEAD-QUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  THE  WEST, 
San  Diego,  Upper  California,  Dec.  12,  1846. 

SIR  :  As  I  have  previously  reported  to  you,  I  left  Santa  Fe 
(New  Mexico)  for  this  country  on  the  25th  September,  with  300 
of  the  First  Dragoons,  under  Major  Sumner.  We  crossed  to  the 
bank  of  the  Del  Norte  at  Albuquerque,  (65  miles  below  Santa 
Fe,)  continuing  down  on  that  bank  till  the  (Jth  October,  when  we 
met  Mr.  Kit  Carson,  with  a  party  of  16  men,  on  his  way  to 
Washington  city,  with  a  mail  and  papers,  an  express  from  Com, 
Stockton  and  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont,  reporting  that  the  Californias 
were  already  in  possession  of  the  Americans  under  their  com 
mand  ;  that  the  American  flag  was  flying  from  every  important 
position  in  the  territory,  and  that  the  country  was  for  ever  free 
from  Mexican  control ;  the  war  ended,  and  peace  and  harmony 
established  among  the  people.  In  consequence  of  this  informa 
tion,  I  directed  that  200  dragoons,  under  Major  Sumner,  should 
remain  in  New  Mexico,  and  that  the  other  100,  with  two  mountain 
howitzers,  under  Capt.  Moore,  should  accompany  me  as  a  guard 
to  Upper  California.  With  this  guard,  we  continued  our  march 
to  the  south,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Del  Norte,  to  the  distance 
of  about  230  miles  below  Santa  Fe,  when,  leaving  that  river  on 
the  15th  October,  in  about  the  33d  deg.  of  latitude,  we  marched 
westward  for  the  Copper  mines,  which  we  reached  on  the  18th, 
and  on  the  20th  reached  the  river  Gila,  proceeded  down  the  Gila, 
crossing  and  recrossing  it  as  often  as  obstructions  in  our  front 
rendered  necessary;  on  the  llth  November  reached  the  Pimos 
village,  about  80  miles  from  the  settlements  in  Sonora.  These 
Indians  we  found  honest,  and  living  comfortably,  having  made  a 
good  crop  th'is  year ;  and  we  remained  with  them  two  days,  to 
rest  our  men,  recruit  our  animals,  and  obtain  provisions.  On  the 
22d  November,  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Gila,  in  latitude  about 
32  degrees — our  whole  march  on  this  river  having  been  nearly 
500  miles,  and,  with  but  very  little  exception,  between  the  32d 
and  33d  parallels  of  latitude. 

This  river,  (the  Gila,)  more  particularly  the  northern  side,  is 
bounded  nearly  the  whole  distance  by  a  range  of  lofty  mountains ; 


196  GEN.  KEARNY'S  REPORT. 


and  if  a  tolerable  wagon  road  to  its  mouth  from  the  Del  Norte  is 
ever  discovered,  it  must  be  on  the  south  side.  The  country  is 
destitute  of  timber,  producing  but  few  cotton-wood  and  musquit 
trees ;  and  though  the  soil  on  the  bottom  lands  is  generally  good, 
yet  we  found  but  very  little  grass  or  vegetation,  in  consequence  of 
the  dryness  of  the  climate  and  the  little  rain  which  falls  here. 
The  Pimos  Indians,  who  make  good  crops  of  wheat,  corn,  vege 
tables,  &c.,  irrigate  the  land  by  water  from  the  Gila,  as  did  the 
Aztecs,  (the  former  inhabitants  of  the  country,)  the  remains  of 
whose  sequias,  or  little  canals,  were  seen  by  us,  as  well  as  the 
position  of  many  of  their  dwellings,  and  a  large  quantity  of  broken 
pottery  and  earthenware  used  by  them. 

We  crossed  the  Colorado  about  10,  miles  below  the  mouth  of 
the  Gill,  and  marching  near  it  about  30  miles  further,  turned  off 
and  crossed  the  desert — a  distance  of  about  60  miles — without 
water  or  grass. 

On  the  2d  December,  reached  Warner's  rancho,  (Agua  Cali- 
ente,)  the  frontier  settlement  in  California,  on  the  route  leading  to 
Sonora.  On  the  4th  we  marched  to  Mr.  Stokes's  rancho,  (San  Isa 
bella,)  and  on  the  5th,  were  met  by  a  small  party  of  volunteers, 
under  Capt.  Gillespie,  sent  out  from  San  Diego,  by  Com.  Stockton, 
to  give  us  what  information  they  possessed  of  the  enemy,  600  or 
700  of  whom  are  now  said  to  be  in  arms  and  in  the  field  through 
out  the  territory,  determined  upon  opposing  the  Americans  and 
resisting  their  authority  in  the  country.  Encamped  that  night 
near  another  rancho  (San  Maria)  of  Mr.  Stokes,  about  40  miles 
from  San  Diego. 

The  journals  and  maps,  kept  and  -prepared  by  Capt.  Johnston, 
(my  aid-de-camp,)  and  those  by  Lieut.  Emory,  Topographical 
Engineers,  which  will  accompany  or  follow  this  report,  will  render 
any  thing  further  from  me,  on  this  subject,  unnecessary. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  W.  KEARNY, 
Brigadier-general,  U.  S.  A* 

Brigadier-general. R.  JONES, 
Adjutant- general,  U.  S.  A. 


Jfflp 

'«  H  itei 


BATTLE  OF  SAN  PASQUAL.  199 


HEAD-QUARTERS,  ARMY  OP  THE  WEST, 

San  Diego,  Upper  California,  Dec.  13,  1846. 

SIR  :  In  my  communication  to  you  of  yesterday's  date,  I  brought 
the  reports  of  the  movements  of  my  guard  up  to  the  morning  of 
the  5th  instant,  in  camp  near  a  rancho  of  Mr.  Stokes,  (Santa  Maria,) 
about  40  miles  from  San  Diego. 

Having  learned  from  Capt.  Gillespie,  of  the  volunteers,  that 
there  was  an  armed  party  of  Californians,  with  a  number  of 
extra  horses  at  San  Pasqual,  three  leagues  distant,  on  a  road  lead 
ing  to  this  place,  I  sent  Lieut.  Hammond,  First  Dragoons,  with  a 
few  men  to  make  a  reconnoissance  of  them.  He  returned  at  two 
in  the  morning  of  the  6th  instant,  reporting  that  he  had  found  the 
party  in  the  place  mentioned,  and  that  he  had  been  seen,  though 
not  pursued  by  them.  I  then  determined  that  I  would  march  for 
and  attack  them  by  break  of  day.  Arrangements  were  accord 
ingly  made  for  the  purpose.  My  aid-de-camp,  Capt.  Johnston, 
dragoons,  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  advanced  guard 
of  twelve  dragoons,  mounted  on  the  best  horses  we  had ;  then 
followed  about  fifty  dragoons  under  Captain  Moore,  mounted,  with 
but  few  exceptions,  on  the  tired  mules  they  had  ridden  from  Santa 
Fe,  (New  Mexico,  1050  miles ;)  then  about  twenty  volunteers  of 
Captain  Gibson's  company  under  his  command,  and  that  of  Capt. 
Gillespie ;  then  followed  our.  two  mountain  howitzers,  with  dra 
goons  to  manage  them,  and  under  the  charge  of  Lieut.  Davidson, 
of  the  1st  regiment.  The  remainder  of  the  dragoons,  volunteers, 
and  citizens,  employed  by  the  officers  of  the  staff,  &c.,  were 
placed  under  the  command  of  Major  Swords,  (quartermaster,)  with 
orders  to  follow  on  our  trail  with  the  baggage,  and  to  see  to  its 
safety. 

As  the  day  (December  6)  dawned,  we  approached  the  enemy  at 
San  Pasqual,  who  was  already  in  the  saddle,  when  Capt.  Johnston 
made  a  furious  charge  upon  them  with  his  advance  guard,  and 
was  in  a  short  time  after  supported  by  the  dragoons ;  soon  after 
which  the  enemy  gave  way,  having  kept  up  from  the  beginning  a 
continued  fire  upon  us.  Upon  the  retreat  of  the  enemy,  Capt. 
Moore  led  off  rapidly  in  pursuit,  accompanied  by  the  dragoons, 


200  BATTLE   OF  SAN   PASQUAL. 

mounted  on  horses,  and  was  followed,  though  slowly,  by  the  others 
on  their  tired  mules ;  the  enemy,  well  mounted,  and  among  the 
best  horsemen  in  the  world,  after  retreating  about  half  a  mile,  and 
seeing  an  interval  between  Capt.  Moore  with  his  advance,  and  the 
dragoons  coming  to  his  support,  rallied  their  whole  force,  charged 
with  their  lances,  and,  on  account  of  their  greatly  superior  num 
bers,  but  few  of  us  in  front  remained  untouched ;  for  five  minutes 
they  held  the  ground  from  us,  when  our  men  coming  up,  we 
again  drove  them,  and  they  fled  from  the  field,  not  to  return  to  it, 
which  we  occupied  and  encamped  upon. 

A  most  melancholy  duty  now  remains  for  me  r  it  is  to  report  the 
death  of  my  aid-de-camp,  Capt.  Johnston,  who  was  shot  dead  at 
the  commencement  of  the  action  ;  of  Capt.  Moore,  who  was  lanced 
just  previous  to  the  final  retreat  of  the  enemy  ;  and  of  Lieut.  Ham 
mond,  also  lanced,  and  who  survived  but  a  few  hours.  We  had 
also  killed  two  sergeants,  two  corporals,  and  ten  privates  of  the 
First  Dragoons ;  one  private  of  the  volunteers,  and  one  man,  an 
engage  in  the  topographical  department.  Among  the  wounded 
are  myself,  (in  two  places,)  Lieut.  Warner,  Topographical  Engi 
neers,  (in  three  places,)  Capts.  Gillespie  and  Gibson  of  the  volun 
teers,  (the  former  in  three  places,)  one  sergeant,  one  bugleman,  and 
nine  privates  of  the  dragoons  ;  many  of  these  surviving  from  two 
to  ten  lance  wounds,  most  of  them  when  unhorsed  and  incapable 
of  resistance. 

Our  howitzers  were  not  brought  into  the  action  ;  but  coming  to 
the  front  at  the  close  of  it,  before  they  were  turned,  so  as  to  admit 
of  being  fired  upon  the  retreating  enemy,  the  two  mules  before 
one  of  them  got  alarmed,  and  freeing  themselves  from  their  drivers, 
ran  ofT,  and  among  the  enemy,  and  was  thus  lost  to  us. 

The  enemy  proved  to  be  a  party  of  160  Californians  under  An 
dreas  Pico,  brother  of  the  late  governor ;  the  number  of  their  dead 
and  wounded  must  have  been  considerable,  though  I  have  no  means 
of  ascertaining  how  many,  as  just  previous  to  their  final  retreat, 
they  carried  off  all  excepting  six. 

The  great  number  of  our  killed  and  wounded  proves  that  our 
officers  and  men  have  fully  sustained  the  high  character  and  repu- 


BATTLE  OF  SAN  PASQUAL.  201 

tation  of  our  troops ;  and  the  victory  thus  gained  over  more  than 
double  our  force,  may  assist  in  forming  the  wreath  of  our  national 
^lory. 

I  have  to  return  my  thanks  to  many  for  their  gallantry  and  good 
conduct  on  the  field,  and  particularly  to  Capt.  Turner,  First  Dra 
goons,  (assistant  acting  adjutant-general,)  and  to  Lieut.  Emory, 
Topographical  Engineers,  who  were  active  in  the  performance  of 
their  duties,  and  in  conveying  orders  from  me  to  the  command. 

On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  having  made  ambulances  for  our 
wounded,  and  interred  the  dead,  we  proceeded  on  our  march, 
when  the  enemy  showed  himself,  occupying  the  hills  in  our  front, 
but  which  they  left  as  we  approached  ;  till,  reaching  San  Bernado, 
a  party  of  them  took  possession  of  a  hill  near  to  it,  and  maintained 
their  position  until  attacked  by  our  advance,  who  quickly  drove 
them  from  it,  killing  and  wounding  five  of  their  number,  with  no 
loss  on  our  part. 

On  account  of  our  wounded  men,  and  upon  the  report  of  the 
surgeon  that  rest  was  necessary  for  them,  we  remained  at  this  place 
till  the  morning  of  the  llth,  when  Lieut.  Gray,  of  the  Navy,  in 
command  of  a  party  of  sailors  and  marines,  sent  out  from  San 
Diego  by  Com.  Stockton,  joined  us.  We  proceeded  at  10,  A.  M., 
the  enemy  no  longer  showing  himself;  and  on  the  12th,  (yester 
day,)  we  reached  this  place  ;  and  I  have  now  to  offer  my  thanks  to 
Com.  Stockton,  and  all  of  his  gallant  command,  for  the  very  many 
kind  attentions  we  have  received  and  continue  to  receive  from 
them. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  W.  KEARNY,  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A. 

Brigadier-general  R.  JONES, 

Adjutant- general  U.  S.  .#.,  Washington. 

HEAD-aUAKTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  WEST, 

Ciudad  de  los  dngeles,  Upper  California,  Jan.  12, 1847. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honour  to  report  that,  at  the  request  of  Com.  R. 

F.  Stockton,  United  States  Navy,  (who  in  September  last  assumed 

the  title  of  governor  of  California,)  I  consented  to  take  command 

of  an  expedition  to  this  place,  (the  capital  of  the  country,)  and  that, 


202  BATTLE  OF  SAN   GABRIEL. 

on  the  29th  December,  I  left  San  Diego  with  about  500  men,  con 
sisting  of  sixty  dismounted  dragoons  under  Capt.  Turner,  fifty 
California  volunteers,  and  the  remainder  of  marines  and  sailors, 
with  a  battery  of  artillery — Lieut.  Emory  (Topographical  Engi 
neers)  acting  as  assistant  adjutant-general.  Com.  Stockton  accom 
panied  us. 

We  proceeded  on  our  route  without  seeing  the  enemy,  till  on  the 
8th  instant,  when  they  showed  themselves  in  full  force  of  600 
mounted  men,  with  four  pieces  of  artillery,  under  their  governor, 
(Flores,)  occupying  the  heights  in  front  of  us,  which  commanded 
the  crossing  of  the  river  San  Gabriel,  and  they  ready  to  oppose 
our  further  progress.  The  necessary  disposition  of  our  troops  was 
immediately  made,  by  covering  our  front  with  a  strong  party  of 
skirmishers,  placing  our  wagons  and  baggage  train  in  rear  of  them, 
and  protecting  the  flanks  and  rear  with  the  remainder  of  the  com 
mand.  We  then  proceeded,  forded  the  river,  carried  the  heights, 
and  drove  the  enemy  from  them,  after  an  action  of  about  an  hour 
and  a  half,  during  which  they  made  a  charge  upon  our  left  flank, 
which  was  repulsed ;  soon  after  which  they  retreated  and  left  us 
in  possession  of  the  field,  on  which  we  encamped  that  night. 

The  next  day  (the  9th  instant)  we  proceeded  on  our  march  at 
tne  usual  hour,  the  enemy  in  our  front  and  on  our  flanks :  and 
when  we  reached  the  plains  of  the  Mesa,  their  artillery  again 
opened  upon  us,  when  their  fire  was  returned  by  our  guns  as  we 
advanced ;  and  after  hovering  around  and  near  us  for  about  two 
hours,  occasionally  skirmishing  with  us  during  that  time,  they 
concentrated  their  force  and  made  another  charge  on  our  left  flank, 
which  was  quickly  repulsed ;  shortly  after  which  they  retired,  we 
continuing  our  march,  and  we  (in  the  afternoon)  encamped  on  the 
banks  of  the  Mesa,  three  miles  below  this  city,  which  we  entered 
the  following  morning  (the  10th  instant)  without  further  molest 
ation. 

Our  loss  in  the  actions  of  the  8th  and  9th  was  small,  being  but 
one  private  killed,  and  two  officers,  Lieut.  Rowan  of  the  navy, 
and  Capt.  Gillespie,  of  the  Volunteers,*  and  eleven  privates 
wounded.  The  enemy,  mounted  on  fine  horses,  and  being  the 


^r  ||5ffa«ffi&* 

f<  If 

I  6-    i5.S£B&2    53 


203 


\ 


LISTS  OF  KILLED  AND  WOUNDED.  205 


best  riders  in  the  world,  carried  off  their  killed  and  wounded,  and 
we  know  not  the  number  of  them,  though  it  must  have  been  con 
siderable. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  W.  KEARNY, 

Brigadier-general  R.  JONES,  Brigadier-general. 

Adjutant-general^  U.  S.  Jl.,  Washington. 

Statement  of  killed  and  wounded  in  the  action  of  the  8th 
January,  1847. 

Killed. — Frederick  Strauss,  seaman,  United  States  ship  Ports 
mouth,  artillery  corps  ;  cannon-shot  in  neck. 

Wounded. — 1st.  Jacob  Hait,  volunteer,  artillery  driver,  wound 
in  left  breast ;  died  on  evening  of  9th.  2d.  Thos.  Smith,  ordi 
nary  seaman,  United  States  ship  Cyane,  company  D,  musketeers, 
shot,  by  accident,  through  the  right  thigh  ;  died  on  night  of  the 
8th.  3d.  William  Cope,  seaman,  United  States  ship  Savannah, 
company  B,  musketeers,  wound  in  the  right  thigh  and  right  arm ; 
severe.  4th.  George  Bantum,  ordinary  seaman,  United  States 
ship  Cyane,  pikeman,  punctured  wound  of  hand,  accidental; 
slight.  5th.  Patrick  Cambell,  seaman,  United  States  ship  Cyane, 
company  D,  musketeers,  wound  in  thigh  by  spent  ball ;  slight. 
6th.  William  Scott,  private,  United  States  marine  corps,  ship 
Portsmouth,  wound  in  the  chest,  spent  ball ;  slight.  7th.  James 
Hendry,  seaman,  United  States  ship  Congress,  company  A,  mus 
keteers,  spent  ball,  wound  over  stomach  ;  slight.  8th.  Joseph 
Wilson,  seaman,  United  States  ship  Congress,  company  A,  mus 
keteers,  wound  in  right  thigh,  spent  ball ;  slight.  9th.  Ivory 
Coffin,  seaman,  United  States  ship  Savannah,  company  B,  mus 
keteers,  contusion  of  right  knee,  spent  ball ;  slight. 

Wounded  on  the  9th. — 1st.  Mark  A.  Child,  private,  company 
C,  First  Regiment  United  States  Dragoons,  gunshot  wound  in 
right  heel,  penetrating  upwards  into  the  ankle-joint ;  severe. 
3d.  James  Cambell,  ordinary  seaman,  United  States  ship  Congress, 
company  D,  carbineers,  wound  in  right  foot,  second  toe  ampu 
tated ;  accidental  discharge  of  his  own  carbine.  3d.  George 


206  COL.  FREMONT-  REPORTS  TO  GEN.  KEARNY. 

Crawford,  boatswain's  mate,  United  States  ship  Cyane,  company 
D,  musketeers,  wound  in  left  thigh  ;  severe.  Lieut.  Rowan, 
United  States  navy,  and  Capt.  Gillespie,  California  battalion, 
volunteers,  contused  slightly  by  spent  balls. 

I  am,  sir,  most  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  S.  GRIFFiN, 
Capt.  WM.  H.  EMORY,  Assistant  Surgeon,  U.  S.  N. 

Assistant  Adjutant-general,  U.  S.  forces. 
CIUDAD  DE  LOS -ANGELES,  California,  Jan.  11,  1847. 

HEA.D-Q.TTAIITERS,  ARMT  OF  THE  WEST, 
Ciudad  de  log  Jlngele&,  Upper  California,  January  14,  1847. 

SIR  :  This  morning,  Lieutenant-colonel  Fremont,  of  the  regi 
ment  of  mounted  riflemen,  reached  here  with  400  volunteers  from 
the  Sacramento  ;  the  enemy  capitulated  with  him  yesterday,  near 
San  Fernando,  agreeing  to  lay  down  their  arms,  and  we  have  now 
the  prospect  of  having  peace  and  quietness  in  this  country,  which 
I  hope  may  not  be  interrupted  again. 

I  have  not  yet  received  any  information  of  the  troops  which 
were  to  come  from  New  York,  nor  of  those  to  follow  me  from 
New  Mexico,  but  presume  they  will   be   here  before  long.     On 
their  arrival,  I  shall,  agreeably  to  the  instructions  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  have  the  management  of  affairs  in  this  coun 
try,  and  will  endeavour  to  carry  out  his  views  in  relation  to  it. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
S.  W.  KEARNY, 

Brigadier-general  R.  JONES,  Brigadier-general. 

Adjutant-general,  U.  S.  A.,  Washington. 

It  will  be  seen  that  Col.  Fremont  reported  his  command,  as 
above,  to  Gen.  Kearny.  It  was  a  few  days  afterwards,  that  un 
happy  difficulties  arose  between  the  parties  in  high  command  as 
to  their  relative  powers.  These  ended  in  Gen.  Kearny's  proceed 
ing  to  San  Diego,  and  from  thence,  by  water,  to  Monterey,  where, 
as  will  be  seen  by  the  joint  "Circular,"  given  in  another  chapter, 
Gen.  Kearny  was  assigned,  on  the  1st  of  March,  1847,  under 
authority  of  the  President,  "the  direction  of  the  operations  on 


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207 


V 


GOV.  KEARNY'S  PROCLAMATION.  209 

land,"  and  invested  "  with  administrative  functions  of  government 
over  the  people  and  territory  occupied  by  the  forces  of  the  United 
States." 

At  San  Diego,  Lieutenant-colonel  Cooke  joined  Gen.  Kearny 
with  the  Mormon  Battalion,  which  he  had  brought  in — with  arms 
bright,  fine  health,  excellent  discipline,  and  without  any  serious 
loss  from  their  long  and  weary  march,  and  was  posted  at  the 
mission  of  San  Luis  Rey  to  check  any  reinforcements  to  the  Cali- 
fornians  from  the  State  of  Sonora. 

The  following  is  Gen.  Kearny's  proclamation  on  assuming  the 
civil  government  of  California.  Its  re-translation  from  the  Spanish 
may  involve  some  inaccuracies,  however  substantially  accurate 
the  copy  may  otherwise  be. 

Proclamation  to  the  People  of  California. 

The  President  of  the  United  States  having  devolved  upon  the 
undersigned  the  civil  government  of  California,  he  enters  upon  the 
discharge  of  his  duties  with  an  ardent  desire  to  promote  as  far  as 
is  possible  the  interests  of  the  country  and  well  being  of  the  inha 
bitants. 

The  undersigned  is  instructed  by  the  President  to  respect  and 
protect  the  religious  institutions  of  California,  to  take  care  that  the 
religious  rights  of  its  inhabitants  are  secured  in  the  most  ample 
manner,  since  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  allows  to  every 
individual  the  privilege  of  worshipping  his  Creator  in  whatever 
manner  his  conscience  may  dictate. 

The  undersigned  is  also  instructed  to  protect  the  persons  and 
property  of  the  quiet  and  peaceable  inhabitants  of  the  country 
against  each  and  every  enemy,  whether  foreign  or  domestic ;  and 
now  assuring  the  Californians  that  his  inclinations,  no  less  than 
his  duty,  demand  the  fulfilment  of  these  instructions,  he  invites 
them  to  use  their  best  efforts  to  preserve  order  and  tranquillity,  to 
promote  harmony  and  concord,  and  to  maintain  the  authority  and 
efficacy  of  the  laws. 

It  is  the  desire  and  intention  of  the  United  States  to  procure  for 
California  as  speedily  as ,  possible  a  free  government  like  that  of 

88  14 


210  GOV.  KEARNY'S  PROCLAMATION. 

their  own  territories,  and  they  will  very  soon  invite  the  inhabitants 
to  exercise  the  rights  of  free  citizens  in  the  choice  of  their  own 
representatives,  who  may  enact  such  laws  as  they  deem  best 
adapted  to  their  interest  and  well-being.  But  until  this  takes 
place,  the  laws  actually  in  existence,  which  are  not  repugnant  to 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  will  continue  in  force  until 
they  are  revoked  by  competent  authority ;  and  persons  in  the  ex 
ercise  of  public  employments  will  for  the  present  remain  in  them, 
provided  they  swear  to  maintain  the  said  constitution,  and  faith 
fully  discharge  their  duties. 

The  undersigned  by  these  presents  absolves  all  the  inhabitants 
of  California  of  any  further  allegiance  to  the  Republic  of  Mexico,  and 
regards  them  as  citizens  of  the  United  States.  Those  who  remain 
quiet  and  peaceable  will  be  respected  and  protected  in  their  rights ; 
but  should  any  one  take  up  arms  against  the  government  of  this 
territory,  or  join  such  as  do  so,  or  instigate  others  to  do  so — all 
these  he  will  regard  as  enemies,  and  they  will  be  treated  as  such. 

When  Mexico  involved  the  United  States  in  war,  the  latter  had 
not  time  to  invite  the  Californians  to  join  their  standard  as  friends, 
but  found  themselves  compelled  to  take  possession  of  the  country 
to  prevent  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  some  European  power.  In 
doing  this,  there  is  no  doubt  that  some  excesses,  some  unauthorized 
acts,  were  committed  by  persons  in  the  service  of  the  United  States, 
and  that  in  consequence  some  of  the  inhabitants  have  sustained 
losses  in  their  property.  These  losses  shall  be  duly  investigated, 
and  those  who  are  entitled  to  indemnification  shall  receive  it. 

For  many  years  California  has  suffered  great  domestic  convul 
sions  ;  from  civil  wars,  like  poisoned  fountains,  have  flowed 
calamity  and  pestilence  over  this  beautiful  region.  These  fountains 
are  now  dried  up ;  the  stars  and  stripes  now  float  over  California, 
and  as  long  as  the  sun  shall  shed  its  light,  they  will  continue  to 
wave  over  her,  and  over  the  natives  of  the  country,  and  over  those 
who  shall  seek  a  domicile  in  her  bosom ;  and  under  the  protection 
of  this  flag,  agriculture  must  advance,  and  the  arts  and  sciences 
will  flourish  like  seed  in  rich  and  fertile  soil. 

Americans  and  Californians !  from  henceforth  one  people.     Let 


SUMMARY  OF  EVENTS.  211 

^VV\/Sr^/^^•S/^*N/VX/^^^•s*>^~^ 

us  then  indulge  one  desire,  one  hope ;  let  that  be  for  the  peace 
and  tranquillity  of  our  country.  Let  us  unite  like  brothers,  and 
mutually  strive  for  the  mutual  improvement  and  advancement  of 
this  our  beautiful  country,  which  within  a  short  period  cannot  fail 
to  be  not  only  beautiful,  but  also  prosperous  and  happy. 

Given  at  Monterey,  capital  of  California,  this  1st  day  of  March, 
of  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1847,  and  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  the  71st. 

S.  W.  KEARNY, 
Brigadier-general  U.  S.  A.,  and  Governor  of  California. 

On  the  2d  of  March,  Gen.  Kearny  ordered  the  government 
archives  to  Monterey, — the  reorganization  of  the  California  bat 
talion,  &c. 

Early  in  this  month,  Lieut.  Emory,  the  adjutant-general  of 
Gen.  Kearny 's  forces,  and  Lieut.  Gray  of  the  navy,  were  sent 
home  with  important  despatches  for  the  government,  and  arrived 
in  Washington  in  the  latter  part  of  April  following. 

Capt.  Tompkins  and  his  company,  of  the  Third  United  States 
Artillery,  arrived  very  early  in  February,  and  were  stationed  at 
Monterey. 

Military  supplies  of  the  quarter-master's  department  had  been 
personally  obtained  from  the  Sandwich  Islands  by  the  strenuous 
exertions  of  Major  Swords. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  Col.  Stevenson  arrived  in  the  ship  T.  H. 
Perkins,  at  San  Francisco,  with  250  of  the  New  York  California 
Volunteers.  The  residue  of  the  regiment  followed  soon  after. 

Col.  Stevenson  was  ordered  to  occupy  Monterey  with  four  com 
panies,  and  Lieutenant-colonel  Burton,  with  three  companies  of 
the  same  regiment,  was  stationed  at  Santa  Barbara. 

In  the  mean  time  a  large  proportion  of  the  emigrants  who  came 
to  California  the  year  before,  and  who  had  been  immediately  and 
almost  to  a  man  called  up  to  bear  arms  in  defence  of  the  American 
flag,  were  with  characteristic  energy  seeking  settlements. 

Towns  and  settlements  were  in  progress.  Fortifications  were 
being  permanently  erected  at  the  most  prominent  assailable  points. 


212  TOWN   OF  SAN  FRANCISCO. 


At  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  a  town  of  the  same  name  arose, 
and  the  site  of  the  town  is  said  to  be  the  "most  commanding  com 
mercial  position  on  the  entire  western  coast  of  the  Pacific  ocean." 

Decree  of  Governor  Kearny. 

I,  Brigadier-general  S.  W.  Kearny,  Governor  of  California,  by 
virtue  of  authority  in  me  vested  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  do  hereby  grant,  convey  and  release  unto  the 
town  of  San  Francisco,  the  people,  or  corporate  authorities  thereof, 
all  the  right,  title  and  interest  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  Territory  of  California,  in  and  to  the  beach,  and 
water  lots  on  the  east  front  of  said  town  of  San  Francisco,  included 
between  the  points  known  as  the  Rincon  and  Fort  Montgomery, 
excepting  such  lots  as  may  be  selected  for  the  use  of  the  United 
States  government  by  the  senior  officers  of  the  army  and  navy 
now  there  ;  provided,  the  said  ground  hereby  .ceded  shall  be 
divided  into  lots,  and  sold  by  public  auction  to  the  highest  bidder, 
after  three  months'  notice  previously  given — the^  proceeds  of  said 
sale  to  be  for  the  benefit  of  the  town  of  San  Francisco. 

Given  at  Monterey,  capital  of  California,  this  10th  day  of  March, 
1847,  and  the  seventy-first  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States.  S.  W.  KEARNY, 

Brigadier-general  and  Governor  of  California. 

Another  town  was  located  at  Monterey  Bay.  In  fact,  govern 
ment  was  established,  a  legislative  council  elected,  civil  officers 
appointed,  &c. 

The  time  of  the  Mormon  battalion,  stationed  at  Monterey  and  at 
San  Diego,  expired  on  the  16th  of  July,  when  the  land  forces 
would  consist  of  Col.  Stevenson's  regiment,  one  company  of  dra 
goons,  (at  Los  Angeles,)  and  one  of  light  artillery,  at  Monterey. 
With  this  force  and  naval  co-operation,  there  existed  no  reason  to 
believe  that  the  peaceful  relations  of  the  country  would  be  again 
disturbed. 

The  last  act  of  Gen.  Kearny  was  to  order  Lieut.  Col.  Burton  to 
proceed  by  sea  to  Lower  California,  and,  disembarking  at  La  Paz, 
to  take  possession  of  that  country. 


: 


RETURN   OF  GEN.  KEARNY.  213 

On  the  31st  of  May,  1847,  Gen.  Kearny  having  devolved  the 
government  on  Col.  Richard  B.  Mason,  of  the  First  Dragoons,  as 
governor  and  commander-in-chief,  set  out  on  his  return  to  the 
United  States. 

Gen.  Kearny 's  party  consisted  of  Captains  Turner  and  Cooke, 
of  the  First  Dragoons,  and  Major  Thomas  Swords  of  the  United 
States  quartermaster  department,  all  officers  who  had  largely  and 
honourably  participated  in  the  conquest  of  California  and  New 
Mexico,  with  Lieut.  Radford,  of  the  United  States  navy,  who 
had  distinguished  him  at  Mazatlan  and  in  California.  Willard  P. 
Hall  of  Missouri,  who  personated  in  New  Mexico  the  citizen 
soldier,  aiding  in  its  conquest  as  a  private,  and  called  from  the 
ranks  to  frame,  with  Doniphan  and  Kearny,  its  laws,  now  returned, 
to  find  himself  elected  by  the  free  suffrage  of  his  fellow  citizens 
of  Missouri,  their  representative  in  Congress,  together  with  Dr. 
Sanderson  of  Missouri,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont  with  his  original 
engineering  party. 

The  hazards  and  difficulties  of  their  route  contrast  strangely 
with  the  luxurious  comforts  of  railroads,  steamboats,  stages  and 
turnpikes  which  traverse  almost  any  equal  distance  of  the  extremes 
of  this  wide  Union.  Their  journey  becomes  the  more  interesting 
that  it  affords  some  idea  of  the  sufferings  of  the  unprepared  and 
unprovided  Mormons  and  emigrants,  in  a  winter's  passage  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains. 

Did  our  design  admit  of  detail,  large  and  most  interesting  ex 
tracts  would  be  here  made  of  Gen.  Kearny 's,  and  others',  route 
homewards,  from  the  journal  of  a  gallant  and  highly  intelligent 
officer  of  his  staff.  The  outlines  must,  however,  suffice;  except 
ing  that  the  burial  of  the  dead  emigrants  claims  a  place  in  full. 

"  There  was  colder  weather  in  March,  in  California,  than  had 
been  experienced  there  for  twenty  years.  Before  reaching  Sutler's, 
the  party  were  forced  to  swim  four  or  five  mountain  torrents, 
swollen  by  the  melting  snow  to  the  breadth  of  rivers — the  baggage 
and  provisions  were  crossed  in  skin  boats  made  upon  the  spot. 
Their  progress  was  slow,  and  most  laborious  and  hazardous ;  and 


214  HARDSHIPS   OF  THE  EMIGRANTS. 


one  of  the  officers,  Major  Cooke,  lost  by  an  upset,  save  saddle  and 
blankets,  his  entire  outfit,  even  to  papers  and  specie." 

The  last  rancho  was  left  on  the  18th  of  June.  On  the  21st 
they  struck  the  Juba,  which  was  overflowing,  hence  they  passed 
higher  up,  and  crossed  the  Sierra  Nevada,  on  which  the  snow 
was  fifteen  feet  deep,  and  through  which  the  mules  were  constantly 
breaking  and  burying  themselves.  The  mountain  torrents  were 
all  swollen  as  the  winter  suddenly  changed  to  spring,  while  the 
snow  beneath  their  feet  and  overhanging  from  the  mountain  cliffs, 
threatened  to  engulf  or  overwhelm  them  alternately  or  simultane 
ously.  Thus  they  passed  the  remains  of  (or  rather  clothes  of) 
Strattan,  an  emigrant,  who,  becoming  snow-blind,  had  been  aban 
doned  by  his  companions,  and  here  starved  to  death.  The  party 
of  Gen.  Kearny  experienced  great  pain  from  the -reflection  of  the 
snow,  having  to  protect  their  eyes  with  their  handkerchiefs. 

"  On  the  22d,  they  had  gone  five  miles  beyond  the  beautiful 
Turkey  lake,  surrounded  by  mountains  capped  with  snow,  when 
they  came  to  *  Cannibal  Camp,'  so  called  from  the  deplorable  state 
to  which  a  party  of  emigrants  were  reduced  in  the  year  1846. 
They  had  been  overtaken  by  the  snow  and  built  cabins,  intending 
to  winter.  But  the  snow  fell  to  the  depth  of  twenty-five  or  thirty 
feet,  and  out  of  eighty,  forty-five  perished  there.  Those  that  sur 
vived  lived  on  those  that  perished  of  starvation.  The  party  found 
a  skull  that  had  been  sawn  in  two  to  reach  its  contents — with 
five  perfect  skeletons,  and  other  remains.  These  were  buried  in 
the  best  manner  the  means  of  the  party  admitted  of.  In  fact,  it  is 
stated,  that  from  the  time  of  their  entering  the  mountains  they  had 
been  constantly  passing  the  remains  of  some  poor  emigrant. 

"  On  the  eastern  slope,  they  were  forced  to  pass  trackless  moun 
tains  of  black  rock,  by  the  Trucky  (or  Salmon  Trout)  river.  In 
the  narrow  pass,  the  road  (made  in  autumn)  very  frequently 
crosses  it ;  some  of  its  small  branches  presented,  besides  a  swim 
ming  deep  torrent,  hundreds  of  yards  of  dangerous  bog  and  mire. 
On  this  river  they  were  visited  by  the  '  Digger  Indians.' 

"The  party  were  nearly  out  of  provisions  of  all  sorts  when  they 
met  the  first  emigrants  at  the  falls  of  Snake  river,  (Lewis  Fork,) 


ARRIVAL  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES.  215 

25  miles  beyond  Fort  Hall.  They  passed  by  that  trading-post  on 
the  15th  of  July.  On  Bear  river  they  obtained  a  recruit  of  horses 
and  mules  from  the  Snake  Indians. 

"The  party  came  the  new  road,  about  50  miles,  without  water: 
from  Green  river  to  Big  Sandy.  Besides  some  companies  who 
went  round  by  Bridger's  Fort,  they  met  about  940  wagons  of  emi 
grants — all,  or  nearly  all,  bound  to  Oregon.  The  last  were  met 
between  the  North  Fork  of  Platte  and  Sweet  Water,  on  the  28th 
July ;  they  were  believed  to  be,  and  considered  themselves,  too 
late  to  reach  Oregon ;  and  spoke  of  passing  the  winter  at  Fort 
Bridger.  They  left  St.  Joseph  about  the  6th  of  June. 

"  At  Fort  Laramie  the  party  found  many  lodges  of  Sioux,  who 
were  quite  friendly.  They  left  that  fort  on  the  3d  inst.  Next 
day  they  met  685  wagons  of  Mormons,  who  were  advancing  very 
slowly  in  parties  of  fifty ;  they  had  come  all  the  way  by  the  north 
bank  of  the  Platte — they  expecting  to  winter  on  the  great  Salt 
Lake  ;  and  this,  they  assert,  is  to  be  the  final  resting-place  of  their 
people.  Incredible  numbers  of  buffaloes  were  passed  through  for 
several  days,  near  the  junction  of  the  two  Plattes.  No  Indians 
were  encountered  after  this  time. 

"  The  party  was  only  66  days  from  the  settlements  of  California 
to  Fort  Leavenworth,  and  made  not  a  day's  stop — averaging  for 
the  last  57  days  31  miles:  whole  distance  near  2,200  miles." 

From  Fort  Leavenworth,  Gen.  Kearny  paid  a  short  visit  to  his 
family  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  his  friends  and  fellow-citizens 
greeted  his  return  with  congratulations  and  festivities,  from  which 
he  hastened  to  Washington  City,  to  attend  an  important  court- 
martial,  which,  if  it  evince  the  fact  of  any  discord  between  com 
manders  as  to  relative  rank,  prerogative  or  deserving,  can  subtract 
nothing  from  the  united  or  individual  gallantry  of  the  conquest  of 
California  and  New  Mexico. 


216  COL.  STERLING  PRICE. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Col.  Sterling  Price — Lieut.  Col.  Willock — Missouri  mounted  Volunteers — Gen. 
Kearny — Col.  Doniphan — Col.  Price  remains  at  Santa  Fe — Conspiracy— 
Gov.  Bent's  Proclamation — Organization  of  Government — Sickness  of  Troops 
— Enterprise  and  Amusements — Revolution — Murder  of  Gov.  Bent  and  others 
•—Americans  to  be  put  to  death — Letters  intercepted — Enemy  approaching 
Santa  F6 — Troops  called  together — Advance  on  the  Enemy — Battles  of  Ca 
nada  and  Embudo — Battle  of  the  Pueblo  de  Taos — Death  of  Capt  Burgwin 
— Funerals  and  graves'  of  Bent  and  Burgwin — People  urged  to  rise — Massa 
cres—Fight  at  Moro— Capt  Henley  killed— Capt  Morin  destroys  the  Town— * 
The  Father-in-law  of  Archuleta — Leaders  delivered  up — Tried  and  Executed 
— State  of  Affairs  in  New  Mexico — Revolutionary  Spirit — Route  between 
Santa  F6  and  Fort  Leavenworth  dangerous — Lieut.  Peck — Incidents  of  the 
Desert — Indians  very  Hostile — Engagement  with  Apaches — Lieut  Brown 
killed — Surprise  and  Capture  of  Los  Pias — Loquesta,  &c, — Prisoners — Exe 
cutions — Expiration  of  Terms  of  Service  of  Volunteers — Lieut.  Love's  Battle 
with  the  Indians — Indian  Aggression — Measures  taken  to  Repress  and  Punish 
—No  organized  resistance  in  New  Mexico — Arrival  of  new  Levies — Col. 
Price  created  a  Brigadier-general — Visits  Missouri  to  return  to  Santa  FC". 

UNDER  an  apprehension  that  the  force  which  left  Fort  Leaven- 
worth,  in  June,  1846,  might  not  be  sufficient  fully  to  effect  the 
purposes  of  the  expedition,  which  was,  if  found  practicable,  to 
pass  on  to  California,  after  conquering  and  securing  New  Mexico, 
the  President  of  the  United  States  had  accepted  the  services  of  an 
additional  regiment  and  battalion  of  Missouri  mounted  Volunteers, 
who  were  sent  on  to  Santa  Fe,  as  reinforcements,  and  to  augment 
Gen.  Kearny's  disposable  force  for  California ;  but  they  had  not 
joined  him  when  he  departed  for  that  country,  on  the  25th  of 
September.  The  commanders  of  these  reinforcements  were  Col. 
Sterling  Price,  who  had  resigned  his  seat  in  Congress  to  serve 
under  the  eagles  of  the  republic,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Willock,  of  Mis 
souri. 

The  prompt  and  energetic  manner  in  which  Gen.  Kearny  con 
ducted  the  Santa  Fe  expedition  has  been  sketched.  When  he 
determined  to  leave  for  Upper  California,  with  only  about  one 


MEXICAN   CONSPIRACY.  217 


hundred  men,  orders  were  left  with  Col.  Doniphan  to  make  the 
march  to  Chihuahua,  (which  he  so  gloriously  executed,)  on  the 
arrival  of  Col.  Price,  then  daily  expected. 

Col.  Price,  thus  left  in  command  of  the  residue  of  the  army  of 
the  west,  had  been  instructed  to  occupy  Santa  Fe,  Taos,  and  other 
points  of  New  Mexico  with  his  troops. 

On  the  -departure  of  Gen.  Kearny  for  California,  the  inhabitants, 
not  only  at  Santa  Fe,  but  throughout  the  whole  of  New  Mexico, 
were  represented  to  be  well  satisfied  with  the  change  which  had 
taken  place,  and  the  general  had  reported  that  "  there  could  no 
•longer  be  apprehended  any  organized  resistance  to  our  troops  in 
that  territory."* 

Rumours  of  a  revolution,  however,  began  to  be  spoken  of  among 
the  Mexicans  in  about  two  months  after  his  departure,  but  the  ap 
parent  willingness  with  which  they  submitted'  to  the  new  govern 
ment  established  over  them,  lulled  all  into  the  belief  of  a  quiet 
submission. 

An  attempt  to  produce  a  revolution  was  concerted  at  the  house 
of  Thomas  Ortiz,  where,  on  the  night  of  the  15th  of  December, 
met  Don  Thomas  Ortiz,  Don  Diego  Archuleta,  Don  Nicholas  Pino, 
Don  Santiago  Armijo,  Don  Miguel  Pino,  Don  Manuel  Charaez, 
Don  Domingo  Boca,  Don  Pablo  Dominguez,  and  Don  Juan  Lopez. 
These  principal  chiefs  of  the  revolt  conspired  to  surprise  the 
guards,  and  to  take  bloody  possession  of  Santa  Fe.  Ortiz  was  to 
be  in  chief  command,  and  Archuleta  second  in  authority.  The 
first  plan  was  for  the  conspirators  to  assemble  with  all  their  men, 
on  Saturday  evening,  the  19th  of  December,  in  the  parish  church. 
Thence  dividing  themselves  into  several  parties  they  were  to  sally 
forth,  some  to  seize  the  pieces  of  artillery,  others  to  go  to  the 
quarters  of  Col.  Price,  and  others  to  go  to  the  palace  of  Governor 
Bent,  if  he  should  be  in  Santa  Fe,  and  if  not,  to  send  an  order  to 
Taos  to  seize  him,  thinking  him  the  one  who  would  give  them 
most  trouble.  This  was  agreed  upon  by  all.  The  church  bell 
was  to  be  the  signal  for  the  assault,  from  the  forces  concealed  in 

*  Report  of  Secretary  of  War,  Dec.  5,  1846. 


218  GOV.  BENT'S  PROCLAMATION. 

the  building,  and  for  those  which  Don  Diego  Archuleta  should 
have  brought  near  the  city.  Midnight  was  the  time  agreed  upon : 
all  were  to  enter  the  plaza  at  the  same  moment,  seize  the  pieces 
of  artillery,  point  .them  into  the  streets,  &c. 

The  time  was  afterwards  postponed,  and  the  attempt  was  to 
have  been  made  on  Christmas  night,  when  a  great  number  of  New- 
Mexicans  were  expected  to  congregate  in  Santa  Fe,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  attending  the  ceremonies  of  the  Catholic  church,  and  that 
they  might  gain  tfver  the  whole  department.  For  this  last  pur 
pose,  Archuleta  was  to  go  to  the  valley  of  Taos,  and  the  leaders 
to  different  sections  of  the  country,  but  the  whole  plot  was  dis 
closed  to  the  Americans  by  Mexican  women,  and  the  authorities 
were  able  to  secure  a  good  many  of  the  leaders.  Ortiz  and  Ar 
chuleta  fled.  No  positive  evidence  could  be  obtained  against  the 
other  leaders,  and  they  were  released  upon  promise  of  good  beha 
viour.  Confidence  was  again  restored.  The  Mexicans,  previous 
to  the  receipt  of  the  news  of  Col.  Doniphan's  capture  of  Chihua 
hua,  were  very  haughty — they  would  jostle  the  Americans  in  the 
street — refuse  to  speak  with  them,  except  to  offer  wagers  that  Col. 
Doniphan  was  a  prisoner  in  Chihuahua.  As  soon,  however,  as 
intelligence  of  the  battle  was  received,  they  became  crest-fallen, 
and  full  of  friendly  professions.  This  appearance  of  amity  was 
wholly  deceptive.  The  fire  of  revenge  was  still  burning  beneath. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  the  following  proclamation  was  issued  : 

Charles  Bent,  governor  of  the  Territory  of  New  Mexico,  to  the 
inhabitants : 

FELLOW-CITIZENS  :  A  concurrence  of  extraordinary  events  crowd 
upon  me,  and  furnish  me  with  materials  to  address  you  for  the  first 
time.  I  will  not  make  use  of  eloquent  or  sublime  language,  for 
truth  needs  not  the  ornaments  of  flattery  to  cause  an  impression — 
its  attractions  are  inherent,  and  will  always  obtain  credence. 

I  arrived  in  this  country  for  the  first  time  in  1829 ;  from  my 
first  acquaintance  with  it,  your  ingenuous  and  frank  character 
aroused  my  sympathy,  which  has  now  taken  deep  root,  and  I 
joined  my  destiny  to  yours.  New  Mexico  became  my  adopted 


GOV.  BENT'S  PROCLAMATION.  219 

country ;  all  my  interests  are  centered  in  its  soil,  and  the  more  so 
at  present,  since  joined  to  the  United  States,  my  native  country,  you 
compose  a  part  of  the  Union,  the  cradle  of  liberty. 

Gen.  S.  W.  Kearny  took  military  possession  of  this  Territory 
on  the  18th  of  August  of  last  year,  and  he  experienced  the  most 
lively  pleasure  in  finding  that  without  the  force  of  arms,  with 
out  mourning,  or  tears,  you  acknowledged  the  republican  govern 
ment,  to  which  you  now  belong.  You  are  now  governed  by  new 
laws,  and  you  now  enjoy  the  free  government  promised  to  you  by 
his  proclamation.  Use  this  liberty  with  moderation.  This  will 
enable  you  to  gather  the  rich  fruits  which  await  you  for  the  future. 

Those  who  composed  this  blind  opposition ;  who,  notorious  for 
their  vices,  and  full  of  ambition,  aspired  to  the  first  offices — and 
those  who  thought  to  bind  the  people  slaves  to  their  caprices,  unde 
ceived,  and  finding  that  they  could  not  obtain  the  offices  conferred 
on  honest  and  meritorious  men — Thomas  Ortiz  and  the  old  revolu 
tionist  Diego  Archuleta — rushed  forward  desperately  to  head  a 
revolution  against  the  present  government.  They  collected  in  this 
capital,  in  the  middle  of  last  month,  a  few  heedless  and  unprinci 
pled  persons,  who,  after  attending  their  meetings,  were  persuaded 
to  seize  the  standard  of  rebellion.  This  treason  was  discovered 
very  opportunely,  and  smothered  at  its  birth ;  they  are  now  fugi 
tives,  but  their  doctrines  are  still  disseminated  among  the  people, 
and  cause  some  anxiety,.as  the  discontented  who  remain  give  pub 
licity  to  their  destructive  plans. 

The  organic  law  and  the  statutes  are  the  basis  on  which  these 
anarchists  repose  ;  they  say  that  contributions  and  land  are  the 
maxims  of  the  present  government ;  that  it  wishes  to  levy  the 
former  and  deprive  you  of  the  possession  of  the  latter — astounding 
falsehood  !  Examine  the  laws  from  the  beginning  to  the  end,  and 
you  will  not  find  a  single  page  that  upholds  the  falsity.  The  sta 
tutes,  it  is  true,  impose  duties  on  commerce,  and  on  distilleries, 
but  in  no  manner  do  they  impose  taxes  on  the  people.  There  is, 
likewise,  an  office  established  for  the  registering  of  land-titles,  but 
this  is  to  secure  to  you  the  titles  of  your  property,  and  not  to 
despoil  you  of  them,  as  the  revolutionists  would  induce  you  to 


220  AFFAIRS  IN   SANTA  FE. 

believe.  They  likewise  avail  themselves  of  other  means  to  create 
alarm,  deceiving  you  by  the  report  that  troops  are  coming  from  the 
interior  to  reconquer  this  country.  What  succour  can  you  expect 
from  the  department  of  Chihuahua,  your  nearest  neighbour,  when 
there  the  spirit  of  party  has  crushed  and  reduced  to  a  nullity  its 
inhabitants  ? 

Col.  Doniphan,  who  was  advancing  on  the  Pueblo  del  Paso  with 
his  regiment,  was  attacked  by  a  superior  force  at  the  Punto  del 
Brazito — in  a  few  minutes  they  were  routed  with  the  loss  of  thirty 
men.  Such,  my  friends,  are  the  futility  and  artifices  with  which 
these  turbulent  spirits  would  delude  you  !  Listen  not,  I  beseech 
you,  to  their  false  and  poisonous  doctrines — remain  quiet  in  your 
domestic  occupations,  that  under  the  protection  of  the  laws,  you 
may  enjoy  the  unspeakable  blessing  offered,  and  uniting  with  your 
government  you  may  point  out  any  measures  which  may  tend  to 
the  improvement  of  your  country,  and  thus  enjoy,  individually,  all 
the  happiness  which  your  best  friend  wishes  you. 

_,    .  CHARLES  BENT. 

Santa  Fe,  January  5,  1847. 

The  organization  of  the  government  had  progressed  until  the 
numerous  appointments,  civil  officers,  &c.,  of  the  territory  had 
been  filled  up — clerks  of  courts,  prefects,  or  county  judges,  she 
riffs,  &c.,  had  been  made.  Among  these,  James  White  Leal,  a 
volunteer  of  Capt.  Hudson's  company,  was  appointed  attorney  for 
Taos,  or  the  northern  judicial  district,  and  Stephen  Lee,  formerly 
of  St.  Louis,  but  then  a  citizen,  became  the  sheriff  of  the  same. 

In  the  meanwhile,  there  had  been  considerable  sickness  among 
the  troops,  which  resulted  in  thinning  their  ranks,  and  in  a  conclu 
sion  that,  of  the  Missourians,  the  troops  from  the  city  of  St.  Louis 
best  preserved  their  health,  those  from  St.  Louis  county  next,  and 
the  country  troops  least  successfully.  Many  died  from  nearly 
every  company  of  the  volunteers. 

Nothing  daunted,  however,  the  spirit  of  enterprise  among  them 
set  every  thing  in  motion.  Mills  were  established,  fortifications 
erected,  troops  drilled,  and  a  printing-press  established.  Nor  were 
amusements  wanting.  A  Thespian  society  was  organized,  princi- 


THE  THEATRE  AT  SANTA  FE.  221 

pally  from  the  men  of  St.  Louis,  and  a  room  in  the  palacio  was 
permitted  by  the  governor  to  be  fitted  up  as  a  theatre — scenes 
painted,  an  orchestra  organized,  and,  in  fact,  all  appointments  pro 
vided.  The  gentlemen  undertook  all  the  characters,  and  were 
well  sustained  by  crowded  houses.  These  dramatic  entertainments 
had  most  potent  charms  for  the  men  of  Col.  Price's  regiment.  As 
a  relic  of  the  time,  "  the  bill"  for  the  night  of  the  25th  of  Decem 
ber  is  here  given : 

SANTA   FE   THEATRE! 

ON   CHKISTMAS   NIGHT 
Will  be  presented  the  tragedy  of 

BARBAROSSA ! 

Achmet    *        •        •        .  V"  *    "  •        •  .     Mr.  McSorley. 

Othman  •      *V-'   •   *  •';•*•'''«.'       •    •  •  .       Livingston. 

Yuseff    .  ;..-..,    '. \v  r>    •>•,    „*••.;•>£>.        Eldridge. 

Al»dm  .        .        •  "     ..  '".._•        .        .  '.        Hinton. 

Barbarossa        .         .      "'  »    *'   •  '"""'•  ""    .u  .^  »"r  Thomas. 

Sadi     .  .    f%    '  '.    •'•V'V  -....-,-*  Vfv.fr.-.,   -        Work. 

Hassan    .        •  -'..-•.       >'      »        •;  .    •  ».  Johnson. 

Slave   .  .        ••       •        •.       ',:- >       •  •       Doty- 

Zaphira         •-      »        .        •     •    «        .  .    Miss  Shands. 

Irene  .     .  •        •    ^   •        •        •- T     •  •       Chambers. 
After  which, 

LA  POLKA ! 

By  an  American  gentleman  and  Spanish  lady. 

(£j>Mr.  CHAMBERS,  (from  Chicago,)  the  young  Dempster,  will  sing  "The 
Maniac,"  « Irish  Emigrant's  Lament,"  «  The  Old  Arm  Chair,"  and  the  «  Blind 
Boy." 

After  which,  the  farce  of 

FORTUNE'S  FROLIC ! 

Robin  Roughhead Mr.  McSorley. 

Snacks          .       •'.         ....         .         .  .       Livingston. 

Mr.  Frank Shands. 

Rattle Thomas. 

Clown •  Fox. 

Miss  Nancy Miss  Kennerly. 

Dolly .  Chambers. 

Margery    .         •         .         ...         .         .  .       Miller. 

The  whole  to  conclude  with  the 

VIRGINIA  MINSTRELS ! 

SONGS — « The  Old  Coloured  Gentleman,"  "  Get  along  home,  you  Spanish 
Gals,"  «  Blue  Tail  Fly,"  and  «  You  aint  good  looking  and  you  can't  come  in." 
Q3>  Doors  open  at  6 ;  curtain  rises  at  6£. 

T2 


MURDER   OF  GOV.  BENT. 


At  this  period  the  Americans  at  Santa  Fe  had  only  about  500 
effective  men — the  rest  were  on  the  sick  list — or  were,  in  detach 
ments,  at  distant  points  of  the  country,  whither  the  horses  had  been 
sent  to  graze,  on  account  of  the  want  of  forage  of  any  kind  within 
any  reasonable  distance  of  Santa  Fe,  or  were  garrisoning  outposts. 
The  civil  government  went  into  active  operation.  On  the  first  of 
December,  Judge  Hougton  opened  his  first  court  at  Santa  Fe,  and 
delinquents  became  amenable  to  the  laws,  and  to  punishment,  on 
condemnation,  after  a  fair  trial. 

Gov.  Charles  Bent  had,  previous  to  his  installation,  resided  at 
Taos,  whither,  confiding  in  this  apparent  tranquillity,  he  went,  on 
the  14th  of  January,  to  attend  to  some  private  business. 

The  Pueblos  of  Taos  were  accounted  the  most  warlike  and  the 
bravest  race  in  Mexico;  xertainly  the  circumstances  of  the  murder 
of  Gov.  Bent,  on  the  19th,  evince  their  extreme  barbarity.  Two 
Pueblo  Indians  had  been  confined  in  the  calaboose  at  Taos,  for 
crime.  The  Indians  from  their  village,  two  miles  distant,  came  to 
the  prison  and  demanded  their  release  from  the  sheriff,  Stephen  L. 
Lee,  who,  perceiving  his  life  in  danger,  was  about  to  comply, 
when  the  prefect,  Cornelius  Vigil,  a  Mexican,  came  in  and  forbid 
it.  The  Indians  immediately  killed  him  and  Lee,  and  released  the 
prisoners.  They  then  proceeded  towards  the  residence  of  Gov. 
Bent ;  but  before  their  arrival  he  was  informed  of  their  approach. 
He  instAUy  dressed  himself,  (for  it  was  early,)  and  seized  his  pis 
tols.  JTwoman  in  the  house  advised  him  to  fight,  but  he  said  it 
would  be  useless  with  such  a  crowd  of  savages.  His  object  was 
to  get  into  the  streets  to  find  assistance,  or  to  escape.  From  one 
of  the  rooms  of  his  house  there  was  a  window  opening  into  that 
of  another  person,  which  was  immediately  on  the  street.  Through 
this  he  was  passing  when  he  received  two  arrows  from  the  Indians, 
who  had  covered  the  house-tops.  He  got  to  the  door,  and  asked 
assistance  from  persons  present :  their  answer  was  that  they  could 
do  nothing — that  he  must  die.  By  this  time,  the  Indians  found 
means  to  get  into  the  house,  when  they  shot  him  through  the  body 
and  killed  him.  Tomas,  who  was  taken  after  the  battle  at  Pueblo 
de  Taos,  then  took  the  governor's  pistol,  and  shot  him  in  the  face. 


PROGRESS   OF  THE  INSURRECTION. 

They  then  scalped  him,  stretched  his  body  on  a  board  with  brass 
nails,  and  paraded  it  through  the  streets  with  savage  yells.  The 
fate  of  Mr.  Leal,  the  district-attorney,  was  still  more  horrible,  for 
they  murdered  him  with  all  the  refinement  of  savage  barbarity. 
They  shot  arrows  into  his  body  for  some  time,  not  sufficiently  deep 
to  destroy  life,  and,  after  that,  they  shot'  them  into  his  face  and 
eyes,  and  then  scalped  him  alive.  After  torturing  him  thus  for 
a  long  time,  they  finally  despatched  him,  and  threw  his  body  into 
the  street.  They  also  murdered  and  scalped  the  son  of  Judge 
Baubien,  who  had  just  returned  from  school  in  the  United  States, 
and  a  friendly  Mexican,  named  Harvimeah. 

They  then  despatched  messengers  to  inform  the  country  people 
below  that  a  blow  had  been  struck,  and  invited  their  aid  to  prose 
cute  the  revolt.  These  messengers  were  arrested,  and  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Americans — one  by  the  alcalde  of  Moro,  and  the 
other  by  a  Frenchman  of  Canada.  The  latter,  hearing  that  a  man 
had  gone  down,  saddled  his  horse,  and  with  his  rifle,  started  in 
pursuit.  He  headed  off  the  messenger,  and  presenting  his  rifle, 
demanded  the  letter,  which  was  delivered  to  him.  Being  unable 
to  read,  he  carried  it  to  the  next  alcalde,  and  again  cocked  his  rifle, 
and  ordered  him  to  read  it.  Thus  possessed  of  the  facts,  he  gal 
loped  to  Santa  Fe,  and  laid  the  whole  before  Col.  Price,  who 
describes  the  subsequent  events,  in  an  official  despatch : 

HEAD-QUARTERS,  ARMY  IK  NEW  MEXICO, 

Santa  Fe,  Feb.  15,  1847. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honour  to  submit  to  you  a  short  account  of  the 
recent  revolution  in  this  Territory,  and  a  detailed  report  of  the 
operations  of  the  forces  under  my  command,  consequent  upon  the 
rebellion. 

About  the  15th  of  December  last  I  received  information  of  an 
attempt  to  excite  the  people  of  this  territory  against  the  American 
government.  This  rebellion  was  headed  by  Thomas  Ortiz  and 
Diego  Archuleta.  An  officer,  formerly  in  the  Mexican  service, 
was  seized,  and  on  his  person  was  found  a  list  of  all  the  dis 
banded  Mexican  soldiers  in  the  vicinity  of  Santa  Fe.  Many  other 


224  PROGRESS  OF  THE  INSURRECTION. 


persons,  supposed  to  be  implicated,  were  arrested,  and  a  full 
investigation  proved  that  many  of  the  most  influential  persons  in 
the  northern  part  of  this  territory  were  engaged  in  the  rebellion. 
All  attempts  to  arrest  Ortiz  and  Archuleta  proved  unsuccessful, 
and  these  rebels  have,  without  doubt,  escaped  in  the  direction  of 
Chihuahua. 

After  the  arrest  above  mentioned  and  the  flight  of  Ortiz  and 
Archuleta,  the  rebellion  appeared  to  be  suppressed;  but  this 
appearance  was  deceptive. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  Gov.  Bent  left  this  city  for  Taos.  On 
the  19th  of  the  same  month,  this  valuable  officer,  together  with 
five  other  persons,  were  seized  at  Don  Fernando  de  Taos  by  the 
Pueblos  and  Mexicans,  and  murdered  in  the  most  inhuman 
manner  the  savages  could  devise.  On  the  same  day,  seven 
Americans  were  murdered  at  the  Arroya  Honda,  and  two  others 
on  the  Rio  Colorado.  The  names  of  the  unfortunate  persons  thus 
brutally  butchered  are  as  follows : 

Jit  Don  Fernando  de  Taos. — Charles  Bent,  governor ;  Stephen 
Lee,  sheriff;  James  W.  Leal,  circuit  attorney ;  Cornelio  Vigil,  (a 
Mexican,)  prefect;  Narcisus  Baubien,  (son  of  the  circuit  judge;) 
Parbleau  Harvimeah,  (a  Mexican.) 

Jit  the  Arroya  Honda. — Simeon  Turley,  Albert  Turbush,  Wil 
liam  Hatfield,  Louis  Tolque,  Peter  Robert,  Joseph  Marshall, 
William  Austin. 

At  the,  Rio  Colorado. — Mark  Head,  William  Harwood. 

It  appeared  to  be  the  object  of  the  insurrectionists  to  put  to 
death  every  American  and  every  Mexican  who  had  accepted 
office  under  the  American  government. 

News  of  these  events  reached  me  on  the  20th  of  January ;  and 
letters  from  the  rebels,  calling  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  Rio 
Abajo  for  aid,  were  intercepted.  It  was  now  ascertained  that  the 
enemy  was  approaching  this  city,  and  that  their  force  was  con 
tinually  being  increased  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  towns  along 
their  line  of  march. 

In  order  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  receiving  any  further  rein 
forcements  in  that  manner,  I  determined  to  meet  them  as  soon  as 


ENGAGEMENT  AT  CANADA.  225 

possible.  Supposing  that  the  detachment  of  necessary  troops 
would  weaken  the  garrison  of  Santa  Fe  too  much,  I  immediately 
ordered  up  from  Albuquerque,  Major  Edmonson,  Second  Regiment 
Missouri  mounted  Volunteers,  and  Capt.  Burgwin,  with  their 
respective  commands,  directing  Capt.  Burgwin  to  leave  one  com 
pany  of  dragoons  at  this  post,  and  to  join  nte  with  the  other. 
Major  Edmonson  was  directed  to  remain  in  Santa  Fe. 

Capt.  Giddings,  company  A,  Second  Regiment  Missouri  mounted 
Volunteers,  was  also  ordered  to  join  me  with  his  company,  upon 
the  arrival  of  Capt.  Burgwin. 

Leaving  Lieutenant-colonel  Willock  in  command  of  this  post, 
on  the  23d  of  January,  I  marched  from  this  place  at  the  head  of 
companies  D,  Capt.  McMillin,  K,  Capt.  Williams,  L,  Capt.  Slack, 
M,  Capt.  Halley,  and  N,  Capt.  Barber,  of  the  Second  Regiment 
Missouri  mounted  Volunteers,  Capt.  Angney's  battalion  of  infantry, 
and  a  company  of  Santa  Fe  volunteers,  commanded  by  Capt.  St. 
Vrain.  I  also  took  with  me  four  mountain  howitzers,  which  I 
placed  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  A.  B.  Dyer,  of  the  Ord 
nance.  My  whole  force  composed  353  rank  and  file,  and,  with 
the  exception  of  Capt.  St.  Vrain's  company,  were  all  dismounted. 
On  the  march,  Capt.  Williams  was  taken  sick,  and  the  command 
of  company  K  devolved  upon  Lieut.  B.  F.  White.  On  the  24th 
of  January,  at  half-past  one  P.  M.,  our  advance,  Capt.  St.  Vrain's 
company,  discovered  the  enemy  in  considerable  force  near  the 
town  of  Canada,  their  position,  at  that  time,  being  in  the  valley 
bordering  the  Rio  del  Norte.  Preparations  were  immediately 
made  by  me  to  attack  them ;  and  it  became  necessary  for  the 
troops  to  march  more  rapidly  than  the  ammunition  and  provision 
wagons  could  travel,  in  order  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  enemy, 
or  to  frustrate  them  in  any  attempt  they  might  make  to  occupy 
commanding  positions.  As  I  entered  the  valley,  I  discovered  them 
beyond  the  creek  on  which  the  town  is  situated,  and  in  full  pos 
session  of  the  heights  commanding  the  road  to  Canada,  and  of 
three  strong  houses  at  the  bases  of  the  hills.  My  line  of  battle 
was  immediately  formed — the  artillery,  consisting  of  four  twelve- 
is 


226  ENGAGEMENT  AT  CANADA. 


pounder  mountain  howitzers,  being,  thrown  forward  on  the  Jeft 
flank  and  beyond  the  creek,  the  dismounted  men  occupying  a 
position  where  they  would  be,  in  some  degree,  protected  by  the 
high  bluff  bank  of  the  stream,  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  until 
the  wagon  train  could  be  brought  up.  The  artillery  opened  on 
the  houses  occupied  by  the  enemy,  and  on  the  more  distant  height, 
on  which  alone  the  guns  could  be  brought  to  bear.  The  enemy 
discovering  the  wagons  to  be  more  than  a  mile  in  the  rear,  sent  a 
large  party  to  cut  them  off;  and  it  became  necessary  to  detach 
Capt.  St.  Vrain's  company  for  their  protection.  This  service  was 
rendered  in  the  most  satisfactory  manner.  So  soon  as  the  wagon 
train  had  been  brought  up,  I  ordered  Capt.  Angney  to  charge 
with  his  battalion  of  infantry,  and  dislodge  the  -enemy  from  the 
house  opposite  the  right  flank,  and  from  which  a  warm  fire  was 
being  poured  on  us.  This  was  done  in  the  most  gallant  manner. 
A  charge  was  then  ordered  to  be  made  upon  all  the  points  occu 
pied  by  the  enemy  in  any  force.  Capt.  Angney,  with  his  com 
mand,  supported  by  Lieut.  White's  company,  charged  up  one  hill, 
while  Capt.  St.  Vrain's  company  turned  the  same,  in  order  to 
cut  off  the  enemy  when  in  retreat.  The  artillery,  supported  by 
Captains  McMillen,  Barber,  and  Slack,  with  their  respective  com 
panies,  at  the  same  time  took  possession  of  some  houses,  (enclosed 
by  a  strong  corial  densely  wooded  with  fruit  trees,  from  which  a 
brisk  fire  was  kept  up  by  the  enemy,)  and  of  the  heights  beyond 
them.  Capt.  Halley's  company  was  ordered  to  support  Capt. 
Angney.  In  a  few  minutes  my  troops  had  dislodged  the  enemy 
at  all  points,  and  they  were  flying  in  every  direction.  The  nature 
of  the  ground  rendered  pursuit  hopeless ;  and  it  being  near  night, 
I  ordered  the  troops  to  take  up  quarters  in  the  town.  The  number 
of  the  enemy  was  about  1500.  Lieut.  Irvine  was  wounded.  In 
this  charge,  my  loss  was  two  killed  and  six  wounded.  Of  the 
killed,  one  was  a  teamster,  who  volunteered  in  Capt.  Angney's 
company.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  thirty-six  killed  ;  wounded 
not  ascertained.  The  next  morning,  the  enemy  showed  them 
selves  in  some  force  (I  think  not  less  than  400)  on  the  distant 
heights.  Leaving  a  strong  guard  in  the  town,  I  marched  in  pur- 


SKIRMISH  AT  EMBUDO.  227 

suit  of  them ;  but  they  were  so  shy,  and  retreated  so  rapidly,  that, 
finding  it  impossible  to  get  near  them,  I  returned  to  town. 

While  at  Canada,  a  number  of  the  horses  belonging  to  Capt. 
Slack's  company  were  brought  in  by  Lieut.  Holcomb. 

On  the  27th,  I  advanced  up  the  Rio  del'Norte  as  far  as  Luceros, 
where,  early  on  the  28th,  I  was  joined  by  Capt.  Burgwin,  com 
manding  company  G,  First  Dragoons,  and  company  A,  Second 
Regiment  Missouri  mounted  Volunteers,  commanded  by  Lieut. 
Boone.  Capt.  Burgwin's  command  was  dismounted,  and  great 
credit  is  due  to  him  and  his  officers  and  men  for  the  rapidity  with 
which  a  march  so  long  and  arduous  was  performed.  At  the 
same  time  Lieut.  Wilson,  First  Dragoons,  who  had  volunteered 
his  services,  came  up  with  a  six-pounder,  which  had  been  sent 
for  from  Canada. 

My  whole  force  now  comprised  479  rank  and  file.  On  the  29th 
I  marched  to  La  Joya,  where  I  learned  that  a  party  of  sixty  or 
eighty  of  the  enemy  had  posted  themselves  on  the  steep  slopes 
of  the  mountains  which  rise  on  each  side  of  the  canon  or  gorge, 
which  leads  to  Embudo.  Finding  the  road  by  Embudo  imprac 
ticable  for  artillery  or  wagons,  I  detached  Capt.  Burgwin,  in  that 
direction,  with  his  own  company  of  dragoons  and  the  companies 
commanded  by  Capt.  St.  Vrain,  and  Lieut  White.  This  detach 
ment  comprised  180  rank  and  file. 

By  my  permission,  Adjutant  R.  Walker,  Second  regiment  Mis 
souri  mounted  Volunteers,  accompanied  Capt.  Burgwin.  Lieut. 
Wilson,  First  Dragoons,  also  volunteered  his  services  as  a  private 
in  Capt.  St.  Vrain's  company. 

Capt.  Burgwin,  pushing  forward,  discovered  the  enemy,  to  the 
number  of  between  six  and  seven  hundred,  posted  on  the  sides  of 
the  mountains,  just  where  the  gorge  becomes  so  contracted  as 
scarcely  to  admit  of  the  passage  of  three  men  marching  abreast. 

The  rapid  slopes  of  the  mountains  rendered  the  enemy's  posi 
tion  very  strong,  and  its  strength  was  increased  by  the  dense  masses 
of  cedar  and  large  fragments  of  rock  which  everywhere  offered 
them  shelter.  The  action  was  commenced  by  Capt.  St.  Vrain, 
who,  dismounting  his  men,  ascended  the  mountain  on  the  left, 


SKIRMISH  AT  EMBUDO. 


doing  much  execution.  Flanking  parties  were  thrown  out  on 
either  side,  commanded  respectively  by  Lieut.  White,  Second  regi 
ment  Missouri  mounted  Volunteers,  and  by  Lieut.  Mcllvaine  and 
Taylor,  First  Dragoons.  These  parties  ascended  the  hills  rapidly, 
and  the  enemy  soon  began  to  retire  in  the  direction  of  Embudo, 
bounding  along  the  steep  and  rugged  sides  of  the  mountains  with 
a  speed  that  defied  pursuit.  The  firing  at  the  pass  of  Embudo 
had  been  heard  at  La  Joya,  and  Capt.  Slack,  with  twenty-five 
mounted  men,  had  been  immediately  despatched  thither.  He  now 
arrived  and  rendered  excellent  service  by  relieving  Lieut.  White, 
whose  men  were  much  fatigued.  Lieuts.  Mcllvaine  and  Taylor 
were  also  recalled  ;  and  Lieut.  In  galls  was  directed  to  lead  a  flank 
ing  party  on  the  right  slope,  while  Capt.  Slack  performed  the 
same  duty  on  the  left.  The  enemy  having  by  this  time  retreated 
beyond  our  reach,  Capt.  Burgwin  marched  through  the  defile,  and 
debouching  into  the  open  valley  in  which  Embudo  is  situated,  re 
called  the  flanking  parties,  and  entered  that  town  without  opposi 
tion,  several  persons  meeting  him  with  a  white  flag. 

Our  loss  in  this  action  was  one  man  killed,  and  one  severely 
wounded,  both  belonging  to  Capt.  St.  V  rain's  company.  The  loss 
of  the  enemy  was  about  twenty  killed,  and  sixty  wounded. 

Thus  ended  the  battle  of  the  pass  of  Embudo. 

On  the  30th,  Capt.  Burgwin  marched  to  Trampas,  where  he 
was  directed  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  main  body,  which,  on  ac 
count  of  the  artillery  and  wagons,  was  forced  to  pursue  a  more 
southern  route.  On  the  31st,  I  reached  Trampas  ;  and  being  joined 
by  Capt.  Burgwin,  marched  on  to  Chamisal  with  the  whole  com 
mand.  On  the  1st  of  February,  we  reached  the  summit  of  the 
Taos  mountain,  which  was  covered  with  snow  to  the  depth  of  two 
feet ;  and  on  the  2d,  quartered  at  a  small  village  called  RioChicito, 
in  the  entrance  of  the  valley  of  Taos.  The  marches  of  the  1st 
and  2d  were  through  deep  snow.  Many  of  the  men  were  frost 
bitten,  and  all  were  very  much  jaded  with  the  exertions  necessary 
to  travel  over  unbeaten  roads,  being  marched  in  front  of  the  artillery 
and  wagons,  in  order  to  break  a  road  through  the  snow.  The  con 
stancy  and  patience  with  which  the  troops  bore  these  hardships, 


BATTLE   OF  PUEBLO  DE  TAGS. 


deserve  all  commendation,  and  cannot  be  excelled  by  the  most 
veteran  soldiers.  On  the  3d,  I  marched  through  Don  Fernando  de 
Taos,  and  finding  that  the  enemy  had  fortified  themselves  in  the 
Pueblo  de  Taos,  proceeded  to  that  place.  I  found  it  a  place  of 
great  strength,  being  surrounded  by  adobe  walls  and  strong  pickets. 
Within  the  enclosure  and  near  the  northern  and  southern  walls, 
arose  two  large  buildings  of  irregular  pyramidal  form  to  the  height 
of  seven  or  eight  stories.  Each  of  these  buildings  was  capable 
of  sheltering  five  or  six  hundred  men.  Besides  these,  there  were 
many  smaller  buildings,  and  the  large  church  of  the  town  was 
situated  in  the  north-western  angle,  a  small  passage  being  left  be 
tween  it  and  the  outer  wall.  The  exterior  wall  and  all  the  en 
closed  buildings  were  pierced  for  rifles.  The  town  was  admirably 
calculated  for  defence,  every  point  of  the  exterior  walls  and  pickets 
being  flanked  by  some  projecting  building,  as  will  be  seen  from 
the  enclosed  drawing. 

After  having  reconnoitered  the  town,  I  selected  the  western 
flank  of  the  church  as  the  point  of  attack  ;  and  about  2  o'clock, 
p.  M.,  Lieut.  Dyer  was  ordered  to  open  his  battery  at  the  distance 
of  about  250  yards.  A  fire  was  kept  up  by  the  six-pounder  and 
the  howitzers,  for  about  two  hours  and  a  half,  when,  as  the  am 
munition  wagon  had  not  yet  come  up,  and  the  troops  were  suffer 
ing  from  cold  and  fatigue,  I  returned  to  Don  Fernando.  Early  on 
the  morning  of  the  4th,  I  again  advanced  upon  Pueblo.  Posting 
the  dragoons  under  Capt.  Burgwin,  about  260  yards  from  the 
western  flank  of  the  church,  I  ordered  the  mounted  men  under 
Capts.  St.  Vrain  and  Slack,  to  a  position  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  town,  whence  they  could  discover  and  intercept  any  fugitives 
who  might  attempt  to  escape  towards  the  mountains,  or  in  the 
direction  of  Don  Fernando.  The  residue  of  the  troops  took  ground 
about  300  yards  from  the  northern  wall.  Here,  too,  Lieut.  Dyer 
established  himself  with  the  six-pounder  and  two  howitzers,  while 
Lieut.  Hassendeubel,  of  Major  Clark's  battalion  light  artillery, 
remained  with  Capt.  Burgwin,  in  command  of  two  howitzers.  By 
this  arrangement  a  cross-fire  was  obtained,  sweeping  the  front  and 
eastern  flank  of  the  church. 
u 


230  BATTLE   OF  PUEBLO  DE  TAOS. 


All  these  arrangements  having  been  made,  the  batteries  opened 
upon  the  town  at  9  o'clock,  A.  M.  At  11  o'clock,  finding  it  im 
possible  to  breach  the  walls  of  the  church  with  the  six-pounder 
and  howitzers,  I  determined  to  storm  that  building.  At  a  signal, 
Capt.  Burgwin,  (First  regiment  United  States  Dragoons,)  at  the 
head  of  his  own  company,  and  that  of  Capt.  McMillin,  (of  the 
volunteers,)  charged  the  western  flank  of  the  church,  while  Capt. 
Angney,  Infantry  battalion,  and  Capt.  Barber,  and  Lieut.  Boon, 
Second  regiment  Missouri  mounted  Volunteers,  charged  the  north 
ern  wall.  As  soon  as  the  troops  above  mentioned  had  established 
themselves  under  the  western  wall  of  the  church,  axes  were  used 
in  the  attempt  to  breach  it ;  and,  a  temporary  ladder  having  been 
made,  the  roof  was  fired.  About  this  time,  Capt.  Burgwin,  at  the 
head  of  a  small  party,  left  the  cover  afforded  by  the  flank  of  the 
church,  and  penetrating  into  the  corral  in  front  of  that  building, 
endeavoured  to  force  the  door.  In  this  exposed  situation,  Capt. 
Burgwin  received  a  severe  wound  which  deprived  me  of  his 
valuable  services,  and  of  which  he  died  on  the  7th  instant.  Lieuts. 
Mcllvaine,  First  United  States  Dragoons,  and  Royall  and  Lack 
land,  Second  regiment  mounted  Volunteers,  accompanied  Capt. 
Burgwin  into  the  corral ;  but  the  attempt  on  the  church  door 
proved  fruitless,  and  they  were  compelled  to  retire  behind  the 
wall.  In  the  mean  time,  small  holes  had  been  cut  into  the  western 
wall,  and  shells  were  thrown  in  by  hand,  doing  good  execution. 
The  six-pounder  was  now  brought  around  by  Lieut.  Wilson,  who 
at  the  distance  of  two  hundred  yards,  poured  a  heavy  fire  of  grape 
into  the  town.  The  enemy  during  all  this  time  kept  up  a  destruc 
tive  fire  upon  our  troops.  About  half-past  3  o'clock,  the  six- 
pounder  was  run  up  within  sixty  yards  of  the  church,  and  after 
ten  rounds,  one  of  the  holes  which  had  been  cut  with  the  axes 
was  widened  into  a  practicable  breach.  The  gun  was  now  run 
up  within  ten  yards  of  the  wall — a  shell  was  thrown  in — three 
rounds  of  grape  were  poured  into  the  breach.  The  storming  party 
—among  whom  were  Lieut.  Dyer,  of  the  ordnance,  and  Lieuts. 
Wilson  and  Taylor,  First  Dragoons,  entered  and  took  possession 
of  the  church  without  opposition.  The  interior  was  filled  with 


BATTLE  OF  PUEBLO  DE  TAOS.  231 

dense  smoke,  but  for  which  circumstance  our  storming  party  would 
have  suffered  great  loss.  A  few  of  the  enemy  were  seen  in  the 
gallery,  where  an  open  door  admitted  the  air,  but  they  retired 
without  firing  a  gun.  The  troops  left  to  support  the  battery  on 
the  north,  were  now  ordered  to  charge  on  that  side.  The  enemy 
abandoned  the  western  part  of  the  town.  Many  took  refuge  in 
the  large  houses  on  the  east,  while  others  endeavoured  to  escape 
toward  the  mountains.  These  latter  were  pursued  by  the  mounted 
men  under  Capts.  Slack  and  St.  Vrain,  who  killed  fifty-one  of 
them,  only  two  or  three  men  escaping.  It  was  now  night,  and  our 
troops  were  quietly  quartered  in  the  houses  which  the  enemy  had 
abandoned.  On  the  next  morning,  the  enemy  sued  for  peace,  and 
thinking  the  severe  loss  they  had  sustained  would  prove  a  salutary 
lesson,  I  granted  their  supplication,  on  the  condition  that  they  should 
deliver  up  to  me  Tomas — one  of  their  principal  men,  who  had  insti 
gated  and  been  actively  engaged  in  the  murder  of  Gov.  Bent  and 
others.  The  number  of  the  enemy  at  the  battle  of  Pueblo  de  Taos  was 
between  six  and  seven  hundred.  Of  these,  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  were  killed — wounded  not  known.  Our  own  loss  was  seven  kill 
ed,  and  forty-five  wounded.  Many  of  the  wounded  have  since  died. 

The  principal  leaders  in  this  insurrection  were  Tafoya,  Pablo 
Chavis,  Pablo  Montoya,  Cortez,  and  Tomas,  a  Pueblo  Indian.  Of 
these,  Tafoya  was  killed  at  Canada;  Chavis  was  killed  at  Pueblo; 
Montoya  was  hanged  at  Don  Fernando  on  the  7th  instant,  and 
Tomas  was  shot  by  a  private  while  in  the  guard  room  at  the  latter 
town.  Cortez  is  still  at  large.  This  person  was  at  the  head  of 
the  rebels  in  the  valley  of  the  Mora. 

In  the  battles  of  Canada,  Embudo,  and  Pueblo  de  Taos,  the 
officers  and  men  behaved  admirably.  Where  all  conducted  them 
selves  gallantly,  I  consider  it  improper  to  distinguish  individuals, 
as  such  discrimination  might  operate  prejudicially  against  the  just 
claims  of  others. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

STERLING  PRICE, 
Col.  commanding  the  army  in  New  Mexico. 

The,  ADJUTANT-GENERAL  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C. 


233       FUNERALS  OF  BENT  AND  BURGWIN. 


Early  in  the  morning  of  the  5th,  the  women  had  come  in 
crowds  to  the  victors,  on  their  knees,  with  white  flags,  crosses, 
images,  &c.,  begging  for  mercy ;  and  very  soon  the  men  followed 
them.  Col.  Price  listened  to  their  supplications.  They  brought 
forward  much  of  the  property  that  had  been  taken  from  the 
American  citizens  whom  they  had  murdered.  This  was  restored 
to  their  relatives. 

This  campaign  of  nineteen  days  was  made  without  tents,  and 
with  marches  through,  and  nights  spent  in  snow  from  two  to  three 
feet  deep,  and  here  it  may  be  mentioned  that  this  winter  was 
deemed  the  most  severe  that  had  occurred  in  New  Mexico  for 
many  years. 

Missouri  had  abundant  cause  of  gratulation  in  the  gallantry  of 
her  citizen  soldiery,  for  this  was  a  contest  not  alone  against  Mexi 
cans,  but  against  the  most  warlike  tribe  of  Indians,  and  a  fastness 
the  strongest  in  New  Mexico,  and  by  them  regarded  as  impreg 
nable.  The  chivalry  and  daring  of  the  attack  and  capture  of  the 
church  at  Pueblo  could  scarce  atone  in  its  confessedly  glorious 
results  for  the  loss  of  the  gallant  Burgwin  and  his  comrades. 
The  heroic  conduct  of  the  United  States  Dragoons  was  well 
attested  by  their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  as  it  was  by  their 
efficiency. 

At  Santa  Fe,  the  13th  was  a  day  of  mourning.  In  the  morning, 
the  funeral  of  Burgwin,  than  whom  the  army  did  not  furnish  a 
better  specimen  of  the  combination  of  the  gentleman  with  the 
officer,  took  place  with  all  the  honours  due  to  his  rank,  and  more 
to  his  merits.  In  the  afternoon,  the  mangled  remains  of  the 
lamented  Governor  Bent  were  buried  by  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
assisted  by  all  the  military  of  the  place.  At  least  1300  Americans 
were  present,  and  a  vast  concourse  of  Mexicans,  at  a  funeral 
pageant  such  as  was  never  witnessed  before  in  that  country. 

Their  graves  are  on  a  little  knoll,  just  under  the  western  angle 
of  Fort  Marcy. 

As  soon  as  Col.  Price  received  the  first  intimation  of  the  murder 
at  Taos  of  Gov.  Bent  and  others,  and  of  insurrectionary  move 
ments  at  St.  Miguel,  he  sent  an  order  to  Capt.  Henley,  who  had 


BURNING   OF  MORO.  233 


been  stationed  in  that  neighbourhood,  as  well  to  take  charge  of  the 
grazing  parties  as  to  protect  Capt.  Murphy,  who  had  been  sent  to 
St.  Louis  and  was  daily  expected  back  with  United  States  funds 
for  the  troops,  to  collect  all  his  forces,  and  to  put  down  any  attempt 
at  a  revolution,  and  to  give  convoy  to  Capt.  Murphy's  small  train. 

Anonymous  letters  had,  immediately  on  the  outbreak  at  Taos, 
been  sent  to  all  the  surrounding  settlements,  urging  the  people  to 
rise  and  massacre  the  Americans.  One  of  these  was  received  at 
Moro,  a  town  on  the  east  side  of  the  mountains.  On  the  19th, 
eight  Americans  were  at  that  place,  and  they  were  immediately 
killed.  Among  them  were  L.  L.  Waldo,  and  Benjamin  Prewitt, 
both  old  traders.  At  the  date  of  these  massacres,  Capt.  Henley, 
with  his  grazing  party  of  90  men,  was  near  Moro.  The  insurgents 
soon  became  formidable  and  fortified  the  town.  Capt.  Henley 
determined  to  attack  in  this  position,  and  fought  them  for  several 
hours,  killing  fifteen  and  wounding  many,  with  eighteen  prisoners, 
who  were  subsequently  sent  to  Santa  Fe.  In  the  engagement, 
Henley  was  killed,  when,  finding  that  the  insurgents  could  not  be 
driven  from  their  position,  the  first  lieutenant  withdrew  for  rein 
forcements,  which  arrived  at  Vegas  about  the  28th  of  January, 
under  Capt.  Morin.  The  party  then  proceeded  to  Moro,  but  on 
its  approach  the  inhabitants  of  the  place  fled.  Moro  had  a  popu 
lation  of  about  2000,  nearly  all  of  whom  took  to  the  mountains. 
Capt.  Morin  then  destroyed  the  place,  with  the  exception  of  three 
houses,  occupied  by  invalids,  as  also  a  large  quantity  of  grain,  then 
much  wanted  by  the  army  in  New  Mexico,  thus,  unfortunately 
causing  some  of  the  horrors  of  war  to  be  felt  as  well  by  the  victors 
as  by  the  enemy. 

Besides  the  prisoners  sent  to  Santa  Fe  from  Moro  town,  Col. 
Price  brought  with  him  the  father-in-law  of  Archuleta,  who  fought 
him  at  Canada.  He  took  both  these  persons  on  his  way  to  Taos, 
carried  them  to  that  place,  and  finally  turned  them  over  to  the 
civil  authority  of  Santa  Fe.  The  father-in-law  was  a  venerable 
looking  old  man  of  about  sixty-five,  and  suffered  much  while 
crossing  the  high  mountains  through  deep  snow,  in  mid-winter. 
There  was  no  doubt  of  his  having  participated  largely  in  the 


234  REBELS  EXECUTED. 

•h/iM-iwMAAA^ASiit^A^WMVV*^ 

revolutiorf.  He  was  wealthy,  and  lived  in  good  style.  An 
interesting  interview  took  place  on  the  return,  between  Col.  Price 
and  the  mother  of  Archuleta.  She  called  on  him  and  begged  her 
son's  release,  and,  with  streaming  eyes,  told  him  he  was  her  only 
comfort — that  her  other  son  had  fled,  and  that  she  was  alone  in 
the  world.  Col.  Price  told  her  it  was  painful  to  him  to  be  the 
cause  of  any  sorrow  to  her,  but  that  his  duty  to  his  country  would 
not  allow  him  to  liberate  her  son.  She  replied  that  she  would 
pledge  all  she  was  worth,  if  he  would  release  him,  that  he  would 
never  engage  in  another  revolution.  Col.  Price  could  not  listen 
to  her  proposal.  She  then  offered  to  bail  him  in  any  amount,  to 
which  it  was  replied  that  the  civil  authority  alone  could  decide  on 
that  matter.  Subsequently  tried  and  condemned,  they  were 
humanely  ordered  to  be  pardoned  by  the  President"  of  the  United 
States  as  soon  as  he  came  to  a  knowledge  of  the  case. 

After  the  fight  at  Taos,  the  Pueblo  Indians,  the  late  allies  of  the 
Mexicans,  delivered  up  to  Col.  Price  the  ringleaders  in  the  assas 
sination  and  rebellion,  and  professed  a  wish  to  be  friendly  with  the 
Americans,  declaring  they  had  been  deceived  by  false  representa 
tions  of  the  Mexicans,  and  of  plunder  largely  held  out  to  them. 

After  these  events,  the  Mexicans  were,  as  far  as  possible,  dis 
armed  and  deprived  of  their  ammunition.  The  civil  government 
resumed  its  functions  under  the  secretary  of  state,  acting  as  gover 
nor,  and  the  trials  of  the  rebels  took  place,  and  resulted  in  the 
condemnation  of  many  who  were  engaged  in  the  revolt.  Their 
execution  then  took  place.  Early  in  April,  Col.  Price  occupied 
Santa  Fe,  with  about  450  troops.  The  remainder  of  his  forces 
were  stationed  through  the  country,  some  guarding  the  horses  and 
stock,  and  others  garrisoning  posts,  as  was  the  position  of  affairs 
previous  to  the  insurrection. 

The  execution  of  the  sentences  of  the  courts  on  the  criminals 
much  excited  the  Mexicans,  still  at  this  time  all  was  quiet,  but  it 
was  believed  to  be  that  stubborn  and  sullen  quiet  which  superior 
force  alone  compels. 

In  this  state  of  affairs — in  a  country  greatly  exhausted  of  its 
resources — and,  at  any  time,  deficient  in  means  to  sustain  a  large 


ROUTE  TO   SANTA  FE.  235 


mounted  force,  especially  around  Santa  Fe,  with  reinforcements  to 
be  brought  above  one  thousand  miles,  over  the  trackless  and  desert 
plains  of  the  far  west,  and  through  hostile  or  thieving  Indians,  it 
was  apparent  that  the  troops  at  Santa  Fe,  and  in  New  Mexico, 
would  be  required  to  exercise  the  greatest  vigilance,  in  order  to 
retain  the  conquered  territory. 

Nor  was  it  long  before  the  inimical  spirit  of  the  population  gave 
occasion  for  activity,  though  not  in  any  attempt  at  wide-spread  in 
surrection,  but  in  such  isolated  acts  of  hostility  as,  if  successful  to 
any  extent,  might  have  lead  to  a  general  revolt. 

Reports  came  of  parties  of  Mexicans  having  gone  from  the  fron 
tiers  to  rob  on  the  plains,  and  of  their  allying  themselves  with  the 
Chasjeune  Indians,  and  some  other  savage  tribes  ;  that  Cortes,  a 
Mexican  outlaw,  had  enlisted  the  Cumanches,  and  threatened  the 
eastern  frontier,  as  well  as  ail  Americans  on  the  Santa  Fe  trail  to 
the  United  States,  &c.  Over  this  trail,  it  had  for  some  time  be 
fore  required  an  efficient  party  to  check  the  attacks  or  depreda 
tions  of  the  savages  who  infested  it,  lured  thither  by  the  hope  of 
plunder.  With  these  Indians,  Mexicans  were  found  united.  The 
Arrapohoes  and  Pawnees  also,  infested  the  route,  so  that  a  small 
government  train  with  stores  for  the  use  of  the  troops  at  Santa  Fe, 
had  been  cut  off  and  the  teamsters  murdered,  and  that  several 
other  lives  and  much  property  had  been  lost. 

At  this  time,  whatever  small  party  ventured  to  traverse  the  long 
and  difficult  route  to  or  .from  Santa  Fe  and  Fort  Leaven  worth,  en 
countered  with  great  certainty  many  adventures,  as  well  as  immi 
nent  risks  of  their  lives.  Lieuts.  Abert  and  Peck,  of  the  Topo 
graphical  Engineers,  had  gone  out  with  Gen.  Kearny.  They  had 
remained  at  Santa  Fe,  when  Gen.  Kearny  departed  for  California, 
and,  subsequently,  made  under  orders  left  for  them,*  an  examina 
tion  and  survey  of  New  Mexico,  which,  when  published,  must  be 


*  Lieut.  Emory,  chief  of  the  Engineer  staff  of  Gen.  Kearny,  left  these  orders, 
and  accompanied  the  general  to  California.  No  opportunity  was  neglected  by 
this  officer  to  take  astronomical  observations,  as  well  as  to  make  topographical 
reconnoissances.  In  these  he  was  most  ably  seconded  by  Lieut.  William  H. 
Warner,  both  of  the  Topographical  Engineer  corps. 


236  INCIDENTS   OF  THE  DESERT. 

of  exceeding  interest,  from  their  known  ability.  Lieut.  Abert  re 
turned  from  New  Mexico,  in  December,  and  January,  1847,  over 
the  plains.  His  journal  of  this  trip  has  been  published,  and 
vividly  details  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  the  enterprise.  Lieut. 
Peck,  with  Messrs.  Woods  and  Sanford,  left  Santa  Fe  soon  after 
theTaos  insurrection,  and  when  the  insurgents  were  being  brought 
to  punishment.  His  party  was  small,  and,  after  they  had  been 
out  a  few  days,  they  were  attacked  by  greatly  superior  numbers 
of  Cumanches,  who,  though  driven  off  for  the  time,  succeeded  in 
stealing  ten  of  their  mules  and  horses.  This  they  effected  by  en 
gaging  and  drawing  off  the  men  from  their  pack  animals,  or  in  a 
variety  of  ways  common  to  Indian  strategy — in  fact,  both  as  war 
riors  and  strategists,  the  Cumanches  were  generally  found  to  be 
more  warlike  and  skilful  than  the  Mexicans.  On  the  second  day, 
the  Indians  in  greater  numbers  renewed  the  fight,  and  succeeded 
in  running  off  thirty-five  of  the  horses  and  mules,  but  not  without 
heavy  loss  to  themselves.  All  of  the  small  party  displayed  the 
utmost  intrepidity  in  facing  the  enemy.  A  musket-ball  struck  the 
pistol  of  Lieut.  Peck,  and  took  the  impression  of  the  manufac 
turer's  name,  plain  as  if  purposely  made  upon  it,  while  his  clothes 
were  lanced  through,  and  a  man  wounded  by  his  side.  Others 
were  equally  warmly  engaged,  and  had  a  long  and  protracted 
struggle  before  they  were  able  to  drive  the  "Arabs  of  the  Desert" 
(as  they  have  been  appropriately  called)  off  from  their  prey. 
That  night  they  were  joined  by  Mr.  McKnight,  from  Chihuahua, 
passed  Midshipman  E.  Beale,  of  the  United  States  navy,  C.  Toplin, 
Christopher  Carson,  Theodore  Talbot,  of  the  army,  Robert  E. 
Russell,  and  others  from  the  Pacific  coast.  The  names  given  are 
connected  with  principal  events  sketched  in  this  work  ;  and  it  was 
a  singular  incident  that  the  far  distant  and  widely  separated 
branches  of  the  "Army  of  the  West" — Chihuahua — Santa  Fe — 
and  California — as  well  as  the  naval  co-operation,  should  here  be 
represented,  and  have  to  tell  their  adventures  at  a  camp  in  the 
desert,  and  while  yet  in  danger  from  the  Cumanches,  out  of  a 
contest  with  whom  they  had  just  emerged,  and  knew  not  at  what 
moment  they  might  have  to  renew,  and  here  to  listen  to  news  of 


SKIRMISHES   WITH  THE  INDIANS.  237 

their  companions  in  arms,  and  of  distant  achievements  before  un 
known  to  each  other. 

At  the  bend  of  the  Arkansas,  the  party  thus  reinforced  had 
their  camp  attacked  by  another  trfbe  of  Indians,  Pawnees,  who 
fired  many  arrows  into  it,  and  attempted  to  excite  a  stampede 
among  the  horses,  but  as  the  Indians  appeared  with  but  one  gun, 
they  were  more  easily  driven  off.  These  gentlemen  arrived, 
finally,  at  the  settlements  without  further  loss.  They  reported 
the  Indians  as  very  hostile,  and  as  intending  to  attack  every  party 
which  they  might  think  themselves  strong  enough  to  contend  with. 
In  fact,  these  dangers  and  difficulties  were  encountered  by  all 
small  parties  who  attempted  the  route  between  Santa  Fe  and  the 
American  settlements ;  some  of  them  in  a  more  eminent  degree. 
It  is  now  known  that  a  force  has  been  sent  out,. under  Col.  Gilpin, 
to  punish  the  Indians,  and  protect  the  route. 

In  New  Mexico,  the  Apache  Indians  had  now  become  trouble 
some.  Despite  their  treaty  with  Col.  Doniphan,  they  had  suffered 
themselves  to  be  excited  to  hostilities  against  the  Americans  by 
some  of  the  leading  insurrectionists  who  had  escaped,  and  pene 
trated  their  country. 

Forces  were  detached  againsf  them.  On  the  29th  of  May, 
1847,  an  engagement  took  place  at  the  Red  River  canon,  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  south-east  of  Santa  Fe,  between  a 
detachment  of  about  175  men  under  Major  Edmonson,  and  a 
band  of  Mexicans  and  Apaches  numbering  four  hundred.  These 
had  combined  to  commit  depredations  on  American  property,  and 
a  few  days  previous  succeeded  in  stealing  150  horses  from  traders 
and  others.  Major  Edmonson  was  crossing  a  slough  at  the  mouth 
of  the  cafion,  which  was  very  miry,  and  many  of  his  horses  being 
in  weak  condition,  were  unable  to  get  through  the  morass.  Here 
he  suddenly  came  upon  the  enemy,  and  engaged  the  Mexicans 
and  Indians  for  about  two  hours  on  foot,  when  he  was  compelled 
to  retreat.  Lieut.  Elliott,  in  command  of  27  men,  principally 
Laclede  Rangers,  gallantly  posted  his  men  on  a  point  of  rocks  and 
kept  the  enemy  from  advancing  upon  the  retiring  forces  until  they 


238  SERVICES   OF  MAJOR  EDMONSON. 

got  out  of  their  difficult  position.  All  the  horses  were  either  shot 
down  or  captured. 

Lieutenant-colonel  Willock  was  ordered,  early  in  June,  from  Taos 
to  Santa  Fe,  the  terms  of  service  of  most  of  his  men  being  at  this 
time  about  to  expire.  In  fact,  the  terms  of  the  whole  volunteer 
force  then  in  New  Mexico  were  near  expiration. 

A  small  detached  party  under  Lieut.  Brown  were  surprised, 
and  all  killed  by  the  Mexicans  about  this  time. 

Major  Edmonson  had  again  encountered  the  enemy  with  artillery, 
and  had  captured,  with  considerable  loss  on  the  part  of  the  Mexi 
cans,  the  town  of  Los  Pias,  and  was  in  July  following  up  his  suc 
cesses — here  the  narrative  of  one  of  his  officers  must  serve  for  our 
sketches. 

The  insurrectionists  under  their  leaders.  Gen.  Gonsales  and  the 
outlaw  Cortes,  surprised  and  dispersed,  and  the  recapture  of  a 
great  number  of  American  horses  by  our  troops. 

SAXTA  FE,  August  4,  1847. 

MESSRS.  EDITORS  :  At  the  destruction  of  the  town  of  Los  Pias, 
on  the  6th  of  July  last,  by  the  troops  under  the  command  of  Major 
Edmonson,  we  found  upon  the  prisoners  then  taken,  letters  written 
by  one  Gonsales  and  others,  leaders  of  the  late  projected  insurrec 
tion,  giving  a  plan  of  their  intended  operations,  and  asking  the 
citizens  to  be  in  readiness  for  action  at  a  moment's  warning ; 
stating,  also,  that  the  Americans  were  already  weakened  by  the 
departure  to  the  States  of  a  number  of  troops :  that  others  were  to 
start  in  a  few  days,  and  amongst  them  the  company  of  artillerists, 
Capt.  Fischer's ;  and  that  spies  would  be  kept  constantly  on  the 
road  to  give  information  of  their  (the  artillerists')  departure,  at 
which  time  they  entertained  no  doubt  of  being  able  to  strike  a 
final  and  decisive  blow.  The  prisoners  also  stated  that  many  of 
their  men,  with  their  arms,  had  gone  to  the  town  of  Loquesta,  to 
join  their  leader,  Gen.  Gonsales. 

Loquesta  is  a  town  of  considerable  size,  and  admirably  located 
for  defence,  being  situated  on  the  San  Miguel  river,  surrounded 
by  mountains  of  an  almost  inaccessible  character.  The  prisoners 


CAPTURE  AT  LOQUESTA. 

stated  that  Cortes  and  his  party  were  at  or  near  Anton  Chico,  a 
frontier  town  situate  on  the  San  Miguel  river,  some  fifteen  or 
twenty  miles  below  Loquesta.  Having  disposed  of  the  prisoners 
taken  at  the  storming  of  Los  Pias,  by  sending  them  to  Santa  Fe 
for  trial,  Major  Edmonson,  with  the  companies  of  Capts.  Horine 
and  Hollo  way,  and  two  pieces  of  artillery,  started  on  the  15th  of 
July  to  the  town  of  Anton  Chico,  a  distance  of  about  forty-five 
miles. 

Upon  our  arrival  at  the  latter  place,  at  daylight  the  following 
morning,  we  found  the  town  deserted,  except  by  a  few  old  men, 
women,  and  children,  from  whom  we  extracted  the  information 
that  their  men,  with  their  arms,  had  likewise  gone  to  the  town  of 
Loquesta.  Pursuing  our  march,  and  when  within  about  five  miles 
of  the  latter  town,  a  Mexican — supposed  to  be  a  spy — was  cap 
tured  by  our  scouting  party,  who  informed  us  that  from  four  to  six 
hundred  armed  Mexicans,  under  their  leaders  Gonsales  and  Cortes, 
were  then  in  the  town  of  Loquesta.  Upon  our  arrival  on  the 
heights  commanding  a  view  of^the  town,  we  discovered  the  enemy 
dispersing  in  every  direction  to  the  mountains.  We,  however, 
succeeded  in  capturing  about  fifty  prisoners ;  the  mule,  saddle, 
bridle  and  sabre  of  Gen.  Cortes  ;  and  a  great  number  of  American 
horses  and  Cumanche  and  Apache  Indian  horses,  obtained  from 
those  Indians  in  exchange  for  horses  stolen  by  the  Mexicans  from 
the  American  troops. 

The  enemy  had  evidently  made  great  preparation  for  defence, 
as  their  houses  were  generally  barricaded  and  fortified,  and  their 
goods  and  valuables  either  hid  in  the  mountains  or  buried.  Our 
prisoners  informed  us  that  the  great  panic  amongst  the  Mexican 
troops  was  produced  by  our  sudden  and  unexpected  approach, 
together  with  the  fact  that  we  had  with  us  artillery,  which  I  think 
they  never  intend  to  face  again  if  they  can  avoid  it. 

It  is  but  justice  to  the  troops — being  part  infantry,  and  having 
with  them  artillery  drawn  by  oxen — to  state  that  the  march  from 
Los  Vegos,  by  Anton  Chico,  to  Loquesta,  a  distance  of  between 
fifty-five  and  sixty  miles,  was  performed  in  less  than  twenty-four 
hours,  over  a  rough  and  mountainous  country,  and  a  great  portion 


240  LIEUT.  LOVE  ATTACKED  BY  INDIANS. 

of  the  distance  without  even  a  road  to  guide  them  ;  to  which  ex 
traordinary  march  may  be  attributed  their  success  on  the  occasion. 

We  are  endeavouring,  here  in  Santa  Fe,  to  raise  a  new  regi 
ment.  Three  companies  have  already  been  mustered  in,  and  two 
others  reported  ready  for  being  mustered.  They  are  composed 
principally  of  discharged  volunteers  and  wagoners. 

Six  of  the  prisoners  charged  with  the  murder  of  Lieut.  Brown 
and  his  party  were  executed  on  the  3d  inst.,  in  Santa  Fe,  by  sen 
tence  of  a  drum-head  court-martial.  The  balance,  it  is  supposed, 
will  be  released  for  want  of  sufficient  testimony. 

Yours,  respectfully,  J.  H.  BOURMAM, 

Second  Lieut.  Co.  F,  Second  Reg.  Mo.  Mounted  Vol. 

The  troops  alluded  to  as  departed  and  departing,  were  the  com 
panies  of  Capts.  Fischer  and  Dent,  and  portions  of  the  original 
commands  of  Capts.  Weightman  and  Hudson,  which  left  Fort  < 
Leaven  worth  with  Gen.  Kearny,  were  left  at  Santa  Fe  by  Col.  \ 
Doniphan  after  Gen.  Kearny's  departure  for  California,  and  had 
been  mustered  into  service  on  the  6th  of  June,  1§46  ;  consequently 
their  term  of  service,  for  one  year,  had  expired,  and  they  were 
sent  home,  and  arrived  in  good  season,  at  St.  Louis,  in  the  latter 
part  of  August,  1847,  where  they  were  greeted  with  every  distinc 
tion  by  their  fellow-citizens. 

Lieut.  Love,  of  the  First  Dragoons,  arrived  with  a  train  of 
wagons,  and  specie  for  the  troops.  The  difficulties  that  beset  his 
march  are  best  described  by  an  officer  of  his  command  of  eighty 
United  States  Dragoons : 

CAMP  ON  BATTIK-GROTJSTD, 

Jlrkansa*  River,  1st  July,  1847. 

DEAR  SIR  :  Previous  to  your  receiving  this,  you  will  no  doubt 
have  heard  of  our  engagement  with  the  Indians  on  the  26th  ult., 
and  of  my  being  engaged  on  that  occasion ;  and  from  the  very 
severe  wound  I  received  from  a  ball  in  the  side,  which  is  lodged 
backwards  and  cannot  be  extracted,  left  me  in  a  very  weak  and 
uncertain  state ;  however,  I  feel  now  much  easier,  and  being 
anxious  that  you  should  have  in  part  at  least  the  particulars,  I  avail 


PERILOUS    POSITION.  241 

.^^'N^^'S^S^WVS^V/'V/X/^^O'S^^^ 

myself  of  an  opportunity  of  writing  by  traders  who  are  going  to 
the  States.  On  the  23d,  we  arrived  at  the  Pawnee  Fork,  and  there 
met  two  government  trains  of  provision  wagons  destined  for  Santa 
Fe,  and  learned  from  them  that  the  day  previous  the  Indians 
charged  on  them  as  their  cattle  were  grazing,  wounding  three  men 
— one  severely — and  driving  off  from  traders  and  a  return  train  of 
government  wagons  under  Mr.  Bell,  some  seventy  yoke  of  oxen, 
leaving  twenty  wagons  and  a  considerable  quantity  of  provisions 
and  other  property  without  the  means  of  transportation.  The 
wagons  and  property  were  burned  to  prevent  their  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  Indians.  Next  day,  (the  24th,)  we  travelled  up  to 
the  Fork  and  encamped,  and  on  the  25th  to  this  place,  on  which 
day  I  was  in  charge  of  the  guard,  and  the  night  passed  over  with 
out  any  alarm,  although  every  vigilance  and  precaution  was  used. 
Next  morning,  the  26th,  immediately  after  reveille,  Hayden's  train, 
which  was  encamped  about  five  hundred  yards  due  west  from  the 
guard-tent,  drove  their  oxen  from  the  corell  to  graze.  All  were 
scarcely  out,  when  a  large  band  of  Cumanches  and  Mexicans 
emerged  from  a  ravine  called  Coon  creek,  about  two  hundred  yards 
west,  and  charged  furiously  on  the  teamsters  and  herdsmen,  wound 
ing  three  and  driving  off  one  hundred  and  thirty  yoke  of  govern 
ment  oxen  and  thirty  yoke  belonging  to  a  trader  who  was  accom 
panying  them.  One  conspicuous  Indian  rode  within  carbine 
range — I  fired  and  killed  the  horse  from  under  him,  and,  as  far  as 
could  be  ascertained,  wounded  himself;  however,  he  was  soon  be 
hind  another  Indian.  In  the  mean  time  the  camp  was  armed,  and 
some  eighteen  or  nineteen  mounted  dragoons  were  ordered  out 
under  my  command,  for  the  purpose  of  retaking  the  cattle.  When 
my  command  reached  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  the 
enemy,  I  halted,  and  formed  in  extended  line,  expecting  to  rally  on 
a  body  of  teamsters  who  were  out  as  footmen ;  then  charged  on 
tfie  Indians,  and  forced  them  to  retreat.  As  they  were  just  retreat 
ing,  a  large  body  of  well-mounted  Indians  crossed  the  river  be 
tween  me  and  the  camp  on  my  left,  and  charged  us  in  the  rear 
with  great  fury,  and  preventing  us  from  rallying,  but  to  cut  our 
way  through  them.  About  this  time  I  was  shot,  and  charged  on 

X  16 


242  TRAIN   PLUNDERED  BY  THE  INDIANS. 


by  several  Indians.  I  made  my  sabre,  however,  drink  blood,  having 
killed  one  and  wounded  another.  Every  man  in  my  little  com 
mand  fought  bravely  and  manfully,  and  five  of  my  poor  fellows 
were  killed  defending  themselves  to  the  last,  and  selling  their  lives 
at  a  dear  rate,  and  six  wounded — three  more  besides  myself 
severely  wounded.  The  killed  were  Arlidge,  Deckhart,  Short, 
Gaskill,  and  Blake.  The  wounded,  myself,  Vancaster,  Lovelace, 
and  Ward,  severely — and  Burk  and  Wilson  slightly.  The  severe 
loss  we  met  with  I  attribute  to  the  almost  unmanageable  state  of 
the  horses,  all  being  new  in  the  service,  and  to  the  Indians  being 
permitted  to  charge  on  us  from  behind.  The  enemy  took  off  the 
cattle,  scalped  three  men,  and  took  off  the  horses,  equipments,  arms 
and  ammunition,  and  the  clothes  of  the  dead.  The  Indians,  when 
in  a  V^dy,  numbered  about  500.  I  make  no  comments,  I  merely 
give  you  the  facts  as  they  occurred  before  me.  The  Indians  were 
all  armed  with  lances  measuring  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  in 
length,  bows  and  arrows,  and  a  great  many  with  rifles  and  mus 
kets.  There  were  some  white  men  among  them.  Several  of  our 
men  saw  them  as  well  as  myself.  The  air  was  actually  as  dark 
as  if  a  flight  of  birds  were  hovering  over  us,  from  the  balls,  lances, 
and  arrows  that  were  flying  through  the  air.  Twelve  or  fifteen  of 
the  enemy  are  known  to  have  fallen — perhaps  more — but  were 
immediately  carried  off.  Four  of  their  horses  were  left  dead  on 
the  ground.  Since  then,  we  remain  here,  merely  changing  posi 
tions,  for  the  purpose  of  pastime.  To-morrow,  I  understand,  we 
will  proceed  again  on  our  route,  arrangements  being  made  to  take 
all  the  trains  along,  with  somewhat  less  team,  however.  The  In 
dians  have  attacked  every  train  that  has  gone  out  or  come  in  this 
year,  and  are  bound  to  attack  every  train  that  will  follow.  These 
infernal  Cumanches,  Pawnees,  and  Arrapahoes  deserve  a  castiga- 
tion  that  would  ever  after  keep  them  quiet,  and  which  they  are 
sure  some  day  to  receive. 

Lieut.  Love  was  in  a  most  distressing  situation.  Never  has  man 
suffered,  I  believe,  more  in  one  day  than  he  suffered.  Here  were 
twelve  wagons,  with  six  mules  to  each — provisions,  and  all  the 
specie,  that  he  could  not  by  any  possible  means  abandon, as  another 


COL.  GILPIN'S   COMMAND.  243 

large  force  were  ready  to  attack  the  camp  if  he  were  to  go  out  with 
a  large  force  ;  and  yet  he  saw  the  awful  situation  in  which  we  were 
placed,  and  could  not  give  us  the  slightest  aid  or  assistance.  lam 
convinced  that  he  acted  prudently  and  wisely ;  for  it  has  been  his 
special  care  to  take  all  the  precautions  that  an  experienced  officer 
could  take  to  save  his  men  and  animals  ever  since  he  commenced 
his  march. 

Such  was  the  character  of  the  Indian  aggression  on  the  route  to 
New  Mexico.  The  violence  was,  however,  confined  to  the  Cu- 
manches,  and  to  a  small  portion  of  the  Arrapahoes,  and  the  band 
of  Pawnees  south  of  the  Platte.  This  violence  the  United  States 
government  took  effectual  measures  to  quell,  by  placing  a  compe 
tent  force  under  the  command  of  Col.  Gilpin,  who  had  signally 
distinguished  himself  with  Doniphan  in  Chihuahua. 

In  August,  all  organized  resistance  to  the  troops  had  ceased  in 
New  Mexico,  the  elections  were  held,  and  the  persons  principally 
concerned  in  the  late  insurrectionary  struggles  had  been  tried,  and 
those  convicted  had  been  executed.  Six  of  the  murderers  of 
Lieut.  Brown  were  of  this  number. 

New  levies  had  arrived  and  were  arriving  to  replace  the  volun 
teers  whose  constant  and  arduous  services  entitled  them  to  their 
discharge  as  soon  as  their  enlistments  expired. 

Col.  Price,  on  the  20th  of  July,  1847,  was  made  a  brigadier- 
general,  and  commands  at  Santa  Fe,  whence  he  lately  returned  for 
a  short  visit  to  Missouri. 


APPENDIX. 


No.  1. 
Letter  of  the  Secretary  of  War  to  Gen.  Kearny. 

[CONFIDENTIAL.]  WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

Washington,  June  3d,  1846. 

Sin :  I  herewith  send  you  a  copy  of  my  letter  to  the  governor  of  Missouri  for 
an  additional  force  of  1000  mounted  men. 

The  object  of  thus  adding  to  the  force  under  your  command  is  not,  as  you  will 
perceive,  fully  set  forth  in  that  letter,  for  the  reason  that  it  is  deemed  prudent 
that  it  should  not,  at  this  time,  become  a  matter  of  public  notoriety ;  but  to  you 
it  is  proper  and  necessary  that  it  should  be  stated. 

It  has  been  decided  by  the  President  to  be  of  the  greatest  importance  in  the 
pending  war  with  Mexico  to  take  the  earliest  possession  of  Upper  California. 
An  expedition  with  that  view  is  hereby  ordered,  and  you  are  designated  to  com 
mand  it.  To  enable  you  to  be  in  sufficient  force  to  conduct  it  successfully,  this 
additional  force  of  1000  mounted  men  has  been  provided,  to  follow  you  in  the 
direction  of  Santa  F6 ,  to  be  under  your  orders,  or  the  officer  you  may  leave  in 
command  at  Santa  F&. 

It  cannot  be  determined  how  far  this  additional  force  will  be  behind  that  de 
signed  for  the  Santa  Fe  expedition,  but  it  will  not  probably  be  more  than  a  few 
weeks.  When  you  arrive  at  Santa  Fe  with  the  force  already  called,  and  shall 
have  taken  possession  of  it,  you  may  find  yourself  in  a  condition  to  garrison 
it  with  a  small  part  of  your  command,  (as  the  additional  force  will  soon  be  at 
that  place,)  and  with  the  remainder  press  forward  to  California.  In  that 
case  you  will  make  such  arrangements,  as  to  being  followed  by  the  reinforce 
ments  before  mentioned,  as  in  your  judgment  may  be  deemed  safe  and  prudent. 
I  need  not  say  to  you  that,  in  case  you  conquer  Santa  Fe,  (and  with  it  will  be 
included  the  department  or  state  of  New  Mexico,)  it  will  be  important  to  pro 
vide  for  retaining  safe  possession  of  it.  Should  you  deem  it  prudent  to  have  still 
more  troops  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  objects  therein  designated,  you  will 
lose  no  time  in  communicating  your  opinion  on  that  point,  and  all  others  con 
nected  with  the  enterprise,  to  this  department.  Indeed,  you  are  hereby  autho 
rized  to  make  a  direct  requisition  for  it  upon  the  governor  of  Missouri. 

It  is  known  that  a  large  body  of  Mormon  emigrants  are  en  route  to  California, 
for  the  purpose  of  settling  in  that  country.  You  are  desired  to  use  all  proper 
means  to  have  a  good  understanding  with  them,  to  the  end  that  the  United 
States  may  have  their  co-operation  in  taking  possession  of,  and  holding,  that 
country.  It  has  been  suggested  here  that  many  of  these  Mormons  would  will- 
x2  245 


246  APPENDIX. 


ingly  enter  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and  aid  us  in  our  expedition 
against  California.  You  are  hereby  authorized  to  muster  into  service  such  as  can 
be  induced  to  volunteer;  not,  however,  to  a  number  exceeding  one-third  of  your 
entire  force.  Should  they  enter  the  service  they  will  be  paid  as  other  volunteers, 
and  you  can  allow  them  to  designate,  so  far  as  it  can  be  properly  done,  the  per 
sons  to  act  as  officers  thereof.  It  is  understood  that  a  considerable  number  of 
American  citizens  are  now  settled  on  the  Sacramento  river,  near  Suter's  esta 
blishment,  called  "  Nueva  Helvetia,"  who  are  well-disposed  towards  the  United 
States.  Should  you,  on  your  arrival  in  the  country,  find  this  to  be  the  true  state 
of  things  there,  you  are  authorized  to  organize  and  receive  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States  such  portion  of  these  citizens  as  you  may  think  useful  to  aid  you 
to  hold  the  possession  of  the  country.  You  will,  in  that  case,  allow  them,  so  far 
as  you  shall  judge  proper,  to  select  their  own  officers.  A  large  discretionary 
power  is  invested  in  you  in  regard  to  these  matters,  as  well  as  to  all  others  in  rela 
tion  to  the  expeditions  confided  to  your  command. 

The  choice  of  routes  by  which  you  will  enter  California,  will  be  left  to  yonr 
better  knowledge  and  ampler  means  of  getting  accurate  information.  We  are 
assured  that  a  southern  route  (called  the  Caravan  route,  by  which  the  wild 
horses  are  brought  from  that  country  into  New  Mexico)  is  practicable ;  and  it 
is  suggested  as  not  improbable  that  it  can  be  passed  over  in  the  winter  months, 
or,  at  least,  late  in  autumn.  It  is  hoped  that  this  information  may  prove  to  be 
correct. 

In  regard  to  the  routes,  the  practicability  of  procuring  needful  supplies  for 
men  and  animals,  and  transporting  baggage,  is  a  point  to  be  well  considered. 
Should  the  President  be  disappointed  in  his  cherished  hope  that  you  will  be  able 
to  reach  the  interior  of  Upper  California  before  winter,  you  are  then  desired  to 
make  the  best  arrangement  you  can  for  sustaining  your  forces  during  the  winter, 
and  for  an  early  movement  in  the  spring.  Though  it  is  very  desirable  that  the 
expedition  should  reach  California  this  season,  (and  the  President  does  not  doubt 
you  will  make  every  possible  effort  to  accomplish  this  object,)  yet,  if  in  your 
judgment,  it  cannot  be  undertaken  with  a  reasonable  prospect  of  success,  you 
will  defer  it,  as  above  suggested,  until  spring.  You  are  left  unembarrassed  by 
any  specific  directions  in  this  matter. 

It  is  expected  that  the  naval  forces  of  the  United  States,  which  are  now,  or 
will  soon  be,  in  the  Pacific,  will  be  in  possession  of  all  the  towns  on  the  sea- 
coast,  and  will  co-operate  with  you  in  the  conquest  of  California.  Arms,  ord 
nance,  munitions  of  war,  and  provisions,  to  be  used  in  that  country,  will  be  sent 
by  sea  to  our  squadron  in  the  Pacific,  for  the  use  of  the  land  forces. 

Should  you  conquer  and  take  possession  of  New  Mexico  and  Upper  California, 
or  considerable  places  in  either,  you  will  establish  temporary  civil  governments 
therein — abolishing  all  arbitrary  restrictions  that  may  exist,  so  far  as  it  may  be 
done  with  safety.  In  performing  this  duty,  it  would  be  wise  and  prudent  to 
continue  in  their  employment  all  such  of  the  existing  officers  as  are  known  to  be 
friendly  to  the  United  States,  and  will  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  them.  The 
duties  at  the  custom-houses  ought,  at  once,  to  be  reduced  to  such  a  rate  as  may 
be  barely  sufficient  to  maintain  the  necessary  officers  without  yielding  any  reve 
nue  to  the  government.  You  may  assure  the  people  of  those  provinces  that 
it  is  the  wish  and  design  of  the  United  States  to  provide  for  them  a  free  govern 
ment  with  the  least  possible  delay,  similar  to  that  which  exists  in  our  territories. 
They  will  then  be  called  on  to  exercise  the  rights  of  freemen  in  electing  their 
own  representatives  to  the  territorial  legislature.  It  is  foreseen,  that  what  relates 


APPENDIX.  247 

-~ -~ -•'••~~~'^~-~~^~'>~N~^^^^^««/s/V>/'S~VV.N/V^N^>/- 

to  the  civil  government  will  be  a  difficult  and  unpleasant  part  of  your  duty,  and 
much  must  necessarily  be  left  to  your  own  discretion. 

In  your  whole  conduct  you  will  act  in  such  a  manner  as  best  to  conciliate  the 
inhabitants,  and  render  them  friendly  to  the  United  States. 

It  is  desirable  that  the  usual  trade  between  the  citizens  of  the  United  States 
and  the  Mexican  provinces  should  be  continued  as  far  as  practicable,  under  the 
changed  condition  of  things  between  the  two  countries.  In  consequence  of  ex 
tending  your  expedition  into  California,  it  may  be  proper  that  you  should  in 
crease  your  supply  for  goods  to  be  distributed  as  presents  to  the  Indians.  The 
United  States  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  at  St.  Louis  will  aid  you  in  pro 
curing  these  goods.  You  will  be  furnished  with  a  proclamation*  in  the  Spanish 
language,  to  be  issued  by  you,  and  circulated  among  the  Mexican  people,  on 
your  entering  into  or  approaching  their  country.  You  will  use  your  utmost 
endeavours  to  have  the  pledges  and  promises  therein  contained  carried  out  to  the 
utmost  extent. 

I  am  directed  by  the  President  to  say  that  the  rank  of  brevet  brigadier-general 
will  be  conferred  on  you  as  soon  as  you  commence  your  movement  towards 
California,  and  sent  round  to  you  by  sea,  or  over  the  country,  or  to  the  care  of 
the  commandant  of  our  squadron  in  the  Pacific.  In  that  way,  cannon,  arms, 
ammunition,  and  supplies  for  the  land  forces,  will  be  sent  to  you. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  L.  MARCY, 

Col.  STEPHEN  W.  KEARJIY,  Secretary  of  War. 

Fort  Leavenu-orth,  Missouri. 


Letter  of  the  Secretary  of  War  to  Gen.  Kearny. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
Washington,  June  5,  1846. 

SIR  :  I  enclosed  to  you  a  few  copies  of  a  proclamation  prepared  for  Gen. 
Taylor,  to  issue  to  the  Mexicans.  1  discover  that  there  are  parts  of  it  that  will 
not  answer  our  purpose  for  Santa  Fe  or  Upper  California.  You  will  not,  there 
fore,  use  these  copies.  It  is  intended  to  make  the  needful  alterations  in  it,  and 
thus  altered,  send  on  copies-j-  to  you  before  you  will  have  occasion  to  distribute 
them.  I  must,  however,  urge  you  not  to  use  those  which  have  been  forwarded. 

Yours,  respectfully, 
Col.  S.  W.  KEARNY.  W.  L.  MARCY. 


*  No  proclamation  for  circulation  was  ever  furnished  to  Gen.  Kearny.  A  few 
copies  of  that  prepared  for  and  sent  to  Gen.  Taylor  were  forwarded  to  Gen. 
Kearny,  but  he  was  requested  not  to  use  them.  These  copies  were  the  only 
proclamations  sent  by  the  War  Department  to  him,  and  I  am  not  aware  that 
he  ever  used  any  of  them.  See  letter  of  the  Secretary  of  War  to  Gen.  Kearny, 
of  the  6th  of  June,  1846,  a  copy  of  which  is,  with  the  papers,  sent  to  the  Pre 
sident,  in  answer  to  the  resolution  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  of  the  15th 
of  December,  1816.  W.  L.  MARCY. 

j-  No  proclamation,  modified  as  proposed,  was  sent.  W.  L.  MARCY. 


248  APPENDIX. 

rf-k/V/S/V^/W^ 

No.  2. 
Letter  of  the  Secretary  of  PFar  to  General  Kearny. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

Washington,  September  12,  1846. 

SIR  :  A  volunteer  regiment  raised  in  the  State  of  New  York,  engaged  to 
serve  during  the  war  with  Mexico,  and  to  be  discharged  wherever  they  may  be 
at  its  termination,  if  in  a  territory  of  the  United  States,  has  been  mustered  into 
service,  and  is  about  to  embark  at  the  port  of  New  York  for  California.  This 
force  is  to  be  a  part  of  your  command ;  but,  as  it  may  reach  the  place  of  its  des 
tination  before  you  are  in  a  condition  to  subject  it  to  your  orders,  the  colonel  of 
the  regiment,  J.  D.  Stevenson,  has  been  furnished  with  instructions  for  his  con 
duct  in  the  mean  time.  I  herewith  send  you  a  copy  thereof,  as  well  as  a  copy 
of  the  instructions  of  the  Navy  Department  to  the  commander  of  the  naval 
squadron  in  the  Pacific;  a  copy  of  a  letter  to  General  Taylor,  with  a  circular 
from  the  Treasury  Department ;  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  General  Scott  to  Captaiji 
Tompkins ;  and  a  copy  of  general  regulations  relative  to  the  respective  rank  of 
naval  and  army  officers.  These,  so  far  as  applicable,  will  be  looked  upon  in  the 
light  of  instructions  to  yourself.  The  department  is  exceedingly  desirous  to  be 
furnished  by  you  with  full  information  of  your  progress  and  proceedings,  to 
gether  with  your  opinion  and  views  as  to  your  movements  into  California,  hav 
ing  reference  as  to  time,  route,  &c.  Beyond  the  regiment  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  S.  Price,  and  the  separate  battalion  called  for  at  the  same  time  by  the 
President  from  the  governor  of  Missouri,  a  requisition  for  one  regiment  of  in 
fantry  was  issued  on  the  18th  of  July  last;  but  the  information  subsequently 
received  here  induced  the  belief  that  it  would  not  be  needed ;  and  the  difficulty 
of  passing  it  over  the  route  at  so  late  a  period  in  the  season,  with  the  requisite 
quantity  of  supplies,  &c.,  was  deemed  so  great,  that  the  orders  to  muster  it  into 
service  have  been  countermanded.  It  will  not  be  sent.  Your  views  as  to  the 
sufficiency  of  your  force,  and  the  practicability  of  sustaining  a  larger  one,  &c., 
are  desired. 

I  am,  with  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  L.  MARCY, 

Secretary  of  War. 

Gen.  S.  W.  KEARJIT,  Fort  Leavenworth,  Missouri. 


No.  3. 

Letter  of  the  Secretary  of  War  to  Colonel  Stevenson. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

September  11,  1846. 

SIR  :  The  transports  having  on  board  the  regiment  under  your  command  are 
destined  to  the  Pacific,  and  will  repair  to  our  naval  squadron  now  on  the  coast 
of  California.  Instructions,  with  a  copy  of  which  you  are  herewith  furnished, 
have  been  given  to  the  naval  commander  on  the  station  in  regard  to  his  opera- 


APPENDIX.  249 

tions,  and  you  are  directed  to  co-operate  with  him  in  carrying  out  his  plans,  so 
far  as  the  land  forces  may  be  needed  for  that  purpose.  Without  undertaking  to 
give  specific  instructions  as  to  the  movements  of  our  forces  in  that  quarter — for 
much  must  be  left  to  the  judgment  of  the  commanding  officers — it  is  proper  to 
state  that  the  military  occupation  of  California  is  the  main  object  in  view.  There 
are  three  points  deemed  to  be  worthy  of  particular  attention.  These  are  San 
Francisco,  Monterey,  and  San  Diego.  It  is  important  to  have  possession  of  the 
bay  of  San  Francisco  and  the  country  in  that  vicinity.  The  necessity  of  having 
something  like  a  permanent  and  secure  position  on  the  coast  of  California,  and 
probably  at  this  place,  will  not  be  overlooked.  Assuming  that  such  a  position 
will  be  found  and  selected  in  the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  it  is  expected  that  a 
fortification,  such  as  the  means  at  your  command  may  enable  you  to  construct, 
will  be  erected,  and  that  the  heavy  guns  heretofore  sent  out,  and  those  taken  by 
the  transports,  to  the  extent  needed,  will  be  used  for  its  armament.  This  work 
should  be  designed  for  a  two-fold  object — the  protection  of  the  vessels  in  the  bay, 
and  the  security  of  the  land  forces.  The  selection  of  the  site  will  be  an  import 
ant  matter.  It  should  be  preceded  by  a  careful  examination  of  the  place  with 
reference  to  both  objects,  and  the  location  made  under  the  advice  and  direction 
of  the  commanding  naval  officer.  It  may,  however,  be  that  your  first  debarkation 
will  not  be  at  this  point.  The  circumstances  which  may  be  found  to  exist  on 
your  arrival  in  that  region  must  control  in  this  matter. 

It  is  probable  that  Monterey  will  have  been  taken  by  our  naval  force  before 
the  land  troops  reach  that  coast,  and  they  may  be  needed  to  hold  possession  of 
it.  This  place  is  also  to  be  secured  by  fortifications  or  temporary  works  from  an 
attack  either  by  sea  or  land.  Judging  from  the  information  we  have  here  of 
what  will  be  the  state  of  things  on  your  arrival  on  the  coast  of  California,  it  is 
concluded  that  these  will  be  found  to  be  the  important  points,  and  the  possession 
of  them  essential  to  the  objects  in  view  in  prosecuting  the  war  in  that  quarter ; 
but  the  particular  mention  of  them  is  by  no  means  intended  as  instructions  to 
confine  our  military  operations  to  them.  As  to  the  third  place  suggested,  San 
Diego,  less  is  known  of  it  than  the  other  two.  Should  the  naval  commander 
determine  to  take  and  hold  possession  of  it,  and  need  the  land  force,  or  a  part 
of  it  for  that  purpose,  you  will  of  course  yield  to  his  views  in  that  respect. 
Whatever  is  done  upon  the  coast  of  California,  or  of  any  other  part  of  Mexico, 
will  require,  it  is  presumed,  the  co-operation  of  the  land  and  naval  forces,  and 
it  is  not  doubted  that  this  co-operation  will  be  cordially  rendered. 

The  point,  or  points  of  debarkation  of  the  regiment  under  your  command, 
should  be  settled  as  speedily  as  practicable  after  your  arrival  upon  the  Mexican 
coast,  and  the  transports  discharged.  The  land  forces  will,  thereafter,  be  attended 
with  the  vessels  of  the  squadron.  The  ordnance,  ammunition,  arms,  and  all 
descriptions  of  public  property  which  are  not  required  on  shore,  or  cannot  be 
safely  deposited  there,  will  be  transferred  to  the  public  ships.  Upon  them  the  land 
forces  must  rely  for  bringing  supplies,  where  water  transportation  is  necessary. 
If  the  exigency  of  the  service  requires  these  forces  to  remove  from  one  place  to 
another  on  the  coast,  the  public  vessels  will  furnish  the  means  of  doing  so. 

The  regiment  under  your  command,  as  well  as  the  company  of  Captain 
Tompkins,  which  has  preceded  it,  is  a  part  of  General  Kearny's  command  ;  but 
it  may  be  that  he  will  not  be  in  a  situation  to  reach  you,  by  his  orders,  imme 
diately  on  your  debarkation.  Until  that  is  the  case,  yours  will  be  an  independent 
command,  except  when  engaged  in  joint  operations  with  the  naval  force. 

It  is  not  expected  that  you  will  be  able  to  advance  far  into  the  country ;  nor  is 


250  APPENDIX. 


it  advisable  for  you  to  undertake  any  hazardous  enterprises.  Until  you  shall 
fall  under  the  command  of  General  Kearny,  your  force  will  be  mostly,  if  not 
wholly,  employed  in  seizing  and  holding  important  possessions  on  the  sea-coast. 

The  government  here  have  received  information,  which  is  deemed  to  be  relia 
ble,  though  not  official,  that  our  squadron  in  the  Pacific  had  taken  possession  of 
Monterey,  as  early  as  the  6th  of  July  last. 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  California  is  not  favorably  disposed  to  the  cen 
tral  government  of  Mexico,  and  will  not  be  disposed  to  make  a  vigorous  resist 
ance  to  our  operations  in  that  quarter.  Should  you  find  such  to  be  the  state  of 
things  there,  it  will  be  of  the  greatest  importance  that  the  good  will  of  the  people 
towards  the  United  States  should  be  cultivated.  This  is  to  be  done  by  liberal 
and  kind  treatment.  They  should  be  made  to  feel  that  we  come  as  deliverers. 
Their  rights  of  person,  property,  and  religion,  must  be  respected  and  sustained. 
The  greatest  care  must  be  taken  to  restrain  the  troops  from  all  acts  of  license  or 
outrage ;  the  supplies  drawn  from  the  country  must  be  paid  for  at  fair-  prices ;  and, 
as  far  as  practicable,  friendly  relations  should  be  established.  In  the  event  of 
hostile  resistance,  your  operations  must  be  governed  by  circumstances;  and  you 
must  use  the  means  at  your  command  to  accomplish  the  objects  in  view — the 
military  occupation  of  the  country.  It  is  not,  however,  expected  that  much  can 
be  done,  if  preparations  shall  have  been  made  to  resist,  until  the  forces  under 
General  Kearny  shall  have  entered  the  country. 

You  are  directed  to  embrace  every  opportunity  to  communicate  with  this 
department,  and  to  furnish  it  with  not  only  a  full  account  of  your  movements  and 
operations  previous  to  your  coming  under  the  direct  command  of  General  Kearny, 
but  with  such  other  information  as  may  be  useful  for  the  department  to  possess 
in  regard  to  conducting  the  war  in  that  quarter. 

Your  attention  is  particularly  directed  to  that  portion  of  the  instructions  to  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  squadron  in  the  Pacific,  herewith,  which  has  reference 
to  the  joint  operation  of  the  land  and  naval  force,  and  you  will  conform  your 
conduct  thereto. 

You  are  also  furnished  with  an  extract  from  instructions  to  General  Keamy,  I 
giving  directions  for  the  course  of  conduct  to  be  pursued  while  in  the  military 
occupation  of  any  portion  of  the  enemy's  country — together  with  a  copy  of  a 
letter  to  General  Taylor,  enclosing  one  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  in 
regard  to  commercial  intercourse  with  such  parts  of  the  enemy's  ports,  &c.,  as 
may  be  in  possession  of  our  forces.  These  are  to  be  regarded  as  instructions  to 
you,  should  you  find  yourself  placed  in  the  circumstances  therein  contemplated. 
You  will  take  the  earliest  opportunity  to  make  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
squadron  in  the  Pacific  fully  acquainted  with  your  instructions  and  the  accom 
panying  papers.  Where  a  place  is  taken  by  the  joint  action  of  the  naval  and 
land  force,  the  naval  officer  in  command,  if  superior  in  rank  to  yourself,  will  be 
entitled  to  make  arrangements  for  the  civil  government  of  it  while  it  is  held  by 
the  co-operation  of  both  branches  of  the  military  force.  All  your  powers,  in  this 
respect,  will  of  course  be  devolved  on  General  Kearny,  whenever  he  shall  arrive 
in  California  and  assume  the  command  of  the  volunteer  regiment  As  soon  as 
practicable,  you  will  furnish  him  with  a  copy  of  this  communication,  and  the 
other  papers  herewith  transmitted. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  L.  MARCY, 

Col.  J.  D.  STEVES  so  w,  Secretary  of  War. 

Commanding  Regiment  of  Volunteers,  Governor's  Island,  harbour  of  New  York. 


APPENDIX.  251 

No.  4. 
Extract  of  Letter  of  Major  General  Scott  to  Lieut.  Tompkins. 

[CONFIDENTIAL.]  HEAD-QUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY, 

Washington,  June  20,  1846. 

Sm :  As  the  commander  of  a  company  of  the  3d  artillery,  you  have  been 
ordered  to  embark  with  the  same  on  board  of  the  United  States  ship  the  Lexing 
ton,  now  lying  in  the  harbour  of  New  York,  and  bound  to  the  north-west  coast 
of  America. 

J  am  now  to  inform  you  that,  with  your  company,  you  are  destined  to  act  in 
conjunction  with  the  United  States  naval  forces  in  the  Pacific,  against  the  republic 
of  Mexico,  with  which  we  are  at  war.  The  commander  of  that  squadron  may 
desire  to  capture  and  to  hold  certain  important  points,  as  Monterey,  and  towns 
or  posts  in  San  Francisco  bay.  The  company  under  your  command  may  be 
needed  for  both  purposes,  and  you  will,  on  consultation,  give  your  co-operation. 

It  is  not  intended  to  place  you  under  the  orders,  strictly  speaking,  of  any  naval 
officer,  no  matter  how  high  in  rank.  That  would  be  illegal,  or  at  least  without 
the  authority  of  any  law ;  but  you  will  be  held  responsible,  when  associated  in 
service,  whether  on  land  or  water,  with  any  naval  officer,  without  regard  to  rela 
tive  rank,  to  co-operate  in  perfect  harmony  and  with  zeal  -and  efficiency.  Great 
confidence  is  reposed  in  you,  in  those  respects,  as  also  in  your  intelligence,  judg 
ment,  temper,  and  prowess.  See  in  this  connection  paragraphs  24,  25,  and  26, 
in  the  old  General  Regulations  for  the  Army,  (edition  of  1825,)  a  copy  of  which 
book  I  handed  to  you  in  my  office. 

Your  condition,  and  that  of  your  company,  on  board  the  Lexington,  com 
manded  by  Lieutenant of  the  navy,  or  other  United  States  vessel  to  which 

you  may  be  transferred,  will  be  that  of  passengers,  not  marines  ;  but  in  the  event 
of  the  ship  finding  herself  in  action,  you,  and  the  company  under  your  command, 
will  not  fail  to  show  yourselves  at  least  as  efficient  as  any  equal  number  of  ma 
rines  whatsoever.  In  such  case,  again,  the  utmost  harmony,  upon  consultation, 
would  be  indispensable ;  and  in  no  case  will  you  fail,  so  far  as  it  may  depend 
upon  your  best  exertions,  to  conciliate  such  harmony. 

On  the  landing  of  the  ordnance  and  ordnance  stores  belonging  to  the  army, 
placed  on  board  of  the  Lexington,  you  will  take  charge  of  the  same,  unless  you 
should  be  joined  for  that  purpose  by  an  ordnance  officer,  in  which  case  you  will 
give  him  aid  and  assistance  in  that  duty. 

On  effecting  a  successful  landing  in  the  enemy's  country,  it  may  be  necessary, 
after  consultation  with  the  naval  commander,  as  above,  and  with  his  assistance, 
to  erect  and  defend  one  or  more  forts,  in  order  to  hold  the  conquered  place  or 
places.  In  such  service  you  will  be  on  your  proper  element. 

It  is  proper  that  I  should  add,  you  may  find  on  the  north-west  coast  an  army 
officer,  with  higher  rank  than  your  own,  when,  of  course,  you  will  report  to  him 
by  letter,  and  if  ashore,  come  under  his  command. 

It  is  known  that  you  have  made  requisitions  for  all  the  proper  supplies  which 
may  be  needed  by  your  company,  for  a  considerable  time  after  landing.  Further 
supplies,  which  may  not  be  sent  after  you  from  this  side  of  the  continent,  you 
will,  when  ashore,  in  the  absence  of  a  naval  force,  and  in  the  absence  of  a  higher 
officer  of  the  army,  have  to  purchase  on  the  other  side ;  but  always  in  strict 
conformity  with  regulations.  On  board,  it  is  understood  that  your  company  will 
be  subsisted  from  the  stores  of  the  ship  or  navy. 


253  APPENDIX. 


Should  you  not  come  under  the  orders  of  an  army  officer,  or  should  you  not 
be  landed  by  the  naval  commander,  as  above,  you  will  remain  on  board  of  the 
squadron,  and  be  sent  home  on  some  ship  of  the  same. 

I  need  scarcely  add  that,  afloat  or  ashore,  you  will  always  maintain  the 
honour,  &c. 


No.  5. 
Letter  from  General  Kearny  to   General  Wool. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  WEST, 

Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  August  22,  1846. 

GENERAL:  I  have  to  inform  you,  that  on  the  18th  instant,  without  firing  a 
gun  or  spilling  a  drop  of  blood,  I  took  possession  of  this  city,  the  capital  of  the 
department  of  New  Mexico;  and  that  I  have  this  day  issued  a  proclamation 
claiming  the  whole  department,  with  its  original  boundaries,  for  the  United 
States,  and  under  the  title  of  « the  Territory  of  New  Mexico." 

Every  thing  here  is  quiet  and  peaceable.  The  people  now  understand  the 
advantages  they  are  to  derive  from  a  change  of  government,  and  are  much  grati 
fied  with  it. 

I  have  more  troops  (Missouri  volunteers)  following  in  my  rear.  On  their 
arrival,  there  will  be  more  than  necessary  for  this  Territory.  I  will  send  the 
surplus  to  you.  Should  you  not  want  them,  you  can  order  them  to  Major  Gene 
ral  Taylor,  or  to  their  homes,  as  you  may  think  the  good  of  the  public  service 
requires. 

I  am  destined  for  Upper  California,  and  hope  to  start  from  here  in  the  course 
of  a  few  weeks.  Success  attend  you. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  W.  KEARNY, 

Brig.  Gen.  JNO.  E.  WOOL,  Brig.  Gen.  U.  &  A. 

U.  S.  Army,  Chihuahua. 


No.  6. 

[SECRET  AND  CONFIDENTIAL.] 

UNITED  STATES  NAVT  DEPARTMENT, 

Washington,  June  24,  1845. 

SIR  :  Your  attention  is  still  particularly  directed  to  the  present  aspect  of  the 
relations  between  this  country  and  Mexico.  It  is  the  earnest  desire  of  the  Presi 
dent  to  pursue  the  policy  of  peace  ;  and  he  is  anxious  that  you,  and  every  part 
of  your  squadron,  should  be  assiduously  careful  to  avoid  any  act  which  could  be 
construed  as  an  act  of  aggression. 

Should  Mexico,  however,  be  resolutely  bent  on  hostilities,  you  will  be  mindful 
to  protect  the  persons  and  interests  of  citizens  of  the  United  States  near  your 
station ;  and,  should  you  ascertain  beyond  a  doubt  that  the  Mexican  government 
has  declared  war  against  us,  you  will  at  once  employ  the  force  under  your  com 
mand  to  the  best  advantage.  The  Mexican  ports  on  the  Pacific  are  said  to  be 
open  and  defenceless.  If  you  ascertain  with  certainty  that  Mexico  has  declared 
war  against  the  United  States,  you  will  at  once  possess  yourself  of  the  port  of 


APPENDIX.  253 

San    Francisco,  and  blockade  or  occupy  such  other  ports  as  your  force  may 
permit. 

Yet,  even  if  you  should  find  yourself  called  upon  by  the  certainty  of  an  ex 
press  declaration  of  war  against  the  United  States  to  occupy  San  Francisco  and 
other  Mexican  ports,  you  will  be  careful  to  preserve,  if  possible,  the  most  friendly 
relations  with  the  inhabitants ;  and,  where  you  can  do  so,  you  will  encourage 
them  to  adopt  a  course  of  neutrality. 

Should  you  fall  in  with  the  squadron  under  Commodore  Parker,  you  will 
signify  to  him  the  wish  of  the  department  that,  if  the  state  of  his  vessels  will 
admit  of  it,  he  should  remain  off  the  coast  of  Mexico  until  our  relations  with  that 
power  are  more  definitely  adjusted;  and  you  will  take  directions  from  him,  as 
your  senior  officer,  communicating  to  him  these  instructions. 

The  great  distance  of  your  squadron,  and  the  difficulty  of  communicating  with 
you,  are  the  causes  for  issuing  this  order.  The  President  hopes  most  earnestly 
that  the  peace  of  the  two  countries  may  not  be  disturbed.  The  object  of  these 
instructions  is  to  possess  you  of  the  views  of  the  government  in  the  event  of  a 
declaration  of  war  on  the  part  of  Mexico  against  the  United  States — an  event 
which  you  are  enjoined  to  do  every  thing  consistent  with  the  national  honour,  on 
your  part,  to  avoid. 

Should  Commodore  Parker  prefer  to  return  to  the  United  States,  he  has  per 
mission  from  the  department  to  do  so.  In  that  event,  you  will  command  the 
united  squadron. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE  BANCROFT. 

Commodore  JOHN  D.  SLOAT, 

Commanding  United  States  naval  forces  in  the  Pacific^ 


No.  7. 

UNITED  STATES  NAVY  DEPARTMENT, 

Washington,  May  13,  1846. 

COMMODORE:  The  state  of  things  alluded  to  in  my  letter  of  June  24,  1845, 
has  occurred.  You  will  therefore  now  be  governed  by  the  instructions  therein 
contained,  and  carry  into  effect  the  orders  then  communicated  with  energy  and 
promptitude,  and  adopt  such  other  measures  for  the  protection  of  the  persons  and 
interests,  the  rights  and  the  commerce  of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  as 
your  sound  judgment  may  deem  to  be  required. 

When  you  establish  a  blockade,  you  will  allow  neutrals  twenty  days  to  leave 
the  blockaded  ports ;  and  you  will  render  your  blockade  absolute,  except  against 
armed  vessels  of  neutral  nations. 

Commending  you  and  your  ships'  companies  to  Divine  Providence, 
I  am,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE   BANCROFT. 
Commodore  JOHN  D.  SIOAT, 

Commanding  U.  S.  Squadron,  Pacific. 


254  APPENDIX. 


No.  8. 

UNITED  STATES  NAVY  DEPARTMENT, 
Washington,  May  15,  1846. 

COMMODORE:  By  my  letter  of  the  13th  instant,  forwarded  to  you  through  dif 
ferent  sources,  in  triplicate,  of  which  a  copy  is  enclosed,  you  were  informed  of 
the  existing  state  of  war  between  this  government  and  the  republic  of  Mexico, 
and  referred  to  your  instructions,  bearing  date,  June  24th,  1845,  in  reference 
to  such  a  contingency,  and  directed  to  "  carry  into  effect  the  orders  then  com 
municated,  with  energy  and  promptitude,  and  adopt  such  other  measures  for  the 
protection  of  the  persons  and  interests,  the  rights  and  the  commerce  of  the  citi 
zens  of  the  United  States,  as  your  sound  judgment  may  deem  to  be  required." 

I  transmit  you  herewith,  by  the  hands  of  Midshipman  McRae,  whom  you  will 
employ  on  your  station,  a  file  of  papers,  containing  the  President's  message,  and 
the  proceedings  of  Congress  relative  to  the  existing  state  of  war  with  Mexico. 
The  President,  by  authority  of  Congress,  has  made  proclamation  of  war  between 
the  United  States  and  Mexico.  You  will  find  a  copy  of  the  proclamation  in  the 
papers  enclosed. 

You  will  henceforth  exercise  all  the  rights  that  belong  to  you  as  commander- 
in-chief  of  a  belligerent  squadron. 

You  will  consider  the  most  important  public  object  to  be  to  take  and  to  hold 
possession  of  San  Francisco,  and  this  you  will  do  without  fail. 

You  will  also  take  possession  of  Mazatlan  and  of  Monterey,  one  or  both,  as 
your  force  will  permit. 

If  information  received  here  rs  correct,  you  can  establish  friendly  relations 
between  your  squadron  and  the  inhabitants  of  each  of  these  three  places. 

Enymas  is  also  a  good  harbour,  and  is  believed  to  be  defenceless.  You  will 
judge  about  attempting  it 

When  you  cannot  take  and  hold  possession  of  a  town,  you  may  establish  a 
blockade,  if  you  have  the  means  to  do  it  effectually,  and  the  public  interest  shall 
require  it 

With  the  expression  of  these  views,  much  is  left  to  your  discretion,  as  to  the 
selection  of  the  points  of  attack,  the  ports  you  will  seize,  the  ports  which  you  will 
blockade,  and  as  to  the  order  of  your  successive  movements. 

A  connection  between  California,  and  even  Sonora,  and  the  present  govern 
ment  of  Mexico,  is  supposed  scarcely  to  exist.  You  will,  as  opportunity  offers, 
conciliate  the  confidence  of  the  people  in  California,  and  also  in  Sonora,  towards 
the  government  of  the  United  States ;  and  you  will  endeavour  to  render  their 
relations  with  the  United  States  as  intimate  and  as  friendly  as  possible. 

It  is  important  that  you  should  hold  possession,  at  least,  of  San  Francisco, 
even  while  you  encourage  the  people  to  neutrality,  self-government,  and  friend 
ship. 

You  can  readily  conduct  yourself  in  such  a  manner  as  will  render  your  occu 
pation  of  San  Francisco  and  other  ports  a  benefit  to  the  inhabitants. 

Com.  Biddle  has  left,  or  will  soon  leave,  China.  If  occasion  offers,  you  will 
send  letters  for  him  to  our  agent  at  the  Sandwich  Islands,  conveying  to  him 
the  wish  of  the  department  that  he  should  appear,  at  once,  off  California  or 
Sonora. 

You  will  inform  the  department,  by  the  earliest  opportunity,  of  those  ports 
which  you  blockade.  You  will  notify  neutrals  of  any  declaration  of  blockade 


APPENDIX.  255 

you  may  make,  and  give  to  it  all  proper  publicity.  Your  blockade  must  be  strict, 
permitting  only  armed  vessels  of  neutral  powers  to  enter ;  but  to  neutrals  already 
in  the  ports,  you  will  allow  twenty  days  to  leave  them. 

The  frigate  "Potomac"  and  sloop  "Saratoga"  have  been  ordered  to  proceed 
as  soon  as  possible  into  the  Pacific;  and  Capt.  Aulick  in  the  Potomac,  and  Com 
mander  Shubrick  in  the  Saratoga,  directed  to  report  to  you  at  Mazatlan,  or  wher 
ever  else  they  may  find  your  forces.  You  would  do  well,  if  occasion  offers,  to 
send  orders  to  Callao  and  Valparaiso,  instructing  them  where  to  meet  you. 

Other  reinforcements  will  be  sent  you  as  the  exigencies  of  the  service  may 
require. 

You  will  communicate  with  the  department  as  often  as  you  can ;  and  you  will, 
if  practicable,  send  a  messenger  with  despatches  across  the  country  to  the  Del 
Norte,  and  so  to  Washington. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE   BANCROFT. 

Commodore  JOHN  D.  SLOAT. 

Commanding  U.  S.  naval  forces  in  the  Pacific. 


No.  9.        .    . 

UNITED  STATES  NAVY  DEPARTMENT, 

Washington,  June  8,  1846. 

COMMODORE  :  You  have  already  been  instructed,  and  are  now  instructed,  to 
employ  the  force  under  your  command,  first,  to  take  possession  of  San  Francisco ; 
next,  to  take  possession  of  Monterey ;  next,  to  take  possession  of  such  other 
Mexican  ports  as  you  may  be  able  to  hold  ;  next,  to  blockade  as  many  of  the 
Mexican  ports  in  the  Pacific  as  your  force  will  permit ;  and  to  watch  over  Ame 
rican  interests  and  citizens,  and  commerce,  on  the  west  coast  of  Mexico. 

It  is  rumoured  that  the  province  of  California  is  well  disposed  to  accede  to 
friendly  relations  with  the  United  States.  You  will  encourage  the  people  of  that 
region  to  enter  into  relations  of  amity  with  our  country. 

In  taking  possession  of  their  harbours,  you  will,  if  possible,  endeavour  to  esta 
blish  the  supremacy  of  the  American  flag  without  any  strife  with  the  people  of 
California. 

The  squadron  on  the  east  coast  of  Mexico,  it  is  believed,  is  in  the  most  friendly 
relations  with  Yucatan.  In  like  manner,  if  California  separates  herself  from 
our  enemy,  the  central  Mexican  government,  and  establishes  a  government  of  its 
own  under  the  auspices  of  the  American  flag,  you  will  take  such  measures  as 
will  best  promote  the  attachment  of  the  people  of  California  to  the  United  States ; 
will  advance  their  prosperity ;  and  will  make  that  vast  region  a  desirable  place 
of  residence  for  emigrants  from  our  soil. 

Considering  the  great  distance  at  which  you  are  placed  from  the  department, 
and  the  circumstances  that  will  constantly  arise,  much  must  be  left  to  your  dis 
cretion.  You  will  bear  in  mind  generally  that  this  country  desires  to  find  in 
California  a  friend,  and  not  an  enemy  ;  to  be  connected  with  it  by  near  ties ;  to 
hold  possession  of  it,  at  least  during  the  war ;  and  to  hold  that  possession,  if  pos 
sible,  with  the  consent  of  its  inhabitants. 

The  sloop  of  war  "  Dale,"  Commander  McKean,  sailed  from  New  York,  on 


256  APPENDIX. 

the  3d  instant,  to  join  your  squadron.  The  "  Lexington,"  Lieut  Bailey,  will 
sail  as  soon  as  she  can  take  on  board  her  stores.  The  "  Potomac  "  and  "  Sara 
toga,"  have  also  been  ordered  to  the  Pacific. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE   BANCROFT. 
Commodore  JOHN  D.  SLOAT, 

Commanding  U.  S.  naval  forces  in  the  Pacific  ocean. 


No.  10. 

Extract  from  the  General  Regulations  of  the  Army — edition 
of  1825. 

ARTICLE  6. — Relative  rank  and  precedence  of  land  and  sea  officers. 

24.  The  military  officers  of  the  land  and  sea  services  of  the  United  States 
shall  rank  together  as  follows:   1st.  A  lieutenant  of  the  navy  with  captains  of  the 
army.     2d.  A  master  commandant  with  majors.     3d.  A  captain  of  the  navy, 
from  the  date  of  his  commission,  with  lieutenant-colonels.     4th.  Five  years  there 
after  with  colonels.      5th.  Ten  years  thereafter,  with  brigadier-generals;    and 
Sth.  Fifteen  years  after  the  date  of  his  commission,  with  major-generals.     But, 
should  there  be  created  in  the  navy  the  rank  of  rear-admiral,  then  such  rank 
wily  shall  be  considered  equal  to  that  of  major-general. 

25.  Nothing  in  the  preceding  paragraph  shall  authorize  a  land  officer  to  com- 
nand  any  United  States  vessel  or  navy  yard ;  nor  any  sea  officer  to  command 
my  part  of  the  army  on  land ;  neither  shall  an  officer  of  the  one  service  have  a 
ight  to  demand  any  compliment,  on  the  score  of  rank,  from  an  officer  of  the  other 
lervice. 

26.  Land  troops  serving  on  board  a  United  States  vessel  as  marines,  shall  be 
subject  to  the  orders  of  the  sea  officer  in  command  thereof.    Other  land  troops,  em- 
)arked  on  board  such  vessels  for  transportation  merely,  will  be  considered,  in 
•espect  to  the  naval  commanders,  as  passengers ;  subject,  nevertheless,  to  the  in- 
ernal  regulations  of  the  vessel. 


No.  11. 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  August  17,  1846. 

COMMODORE  :  The  United  States  being  in  a  state  of  war  by  the  action  of 
VIexico,  it  is  desired  by  the  prosecution  of  hostilities  to  hasten  the  return  of 
>eace,  and  to  secure  it  on  advantageous  conditions.  For  this  purpose  orders 
lave  been  given  to  the  squadron  in  the  Pacific  to  take  and  keep  possession 
)f  Upper  California,  especially  of  the  ports  of  San  Francisco,  of  Monterey, 
ind  of  San  Diego ;  and  also,  if  opportunity  offer  and  the  people  favour,  to  take 
jossession,  by  an  inland  expedition,  of  San  Pueblo  de  los  Angeles,  near  San 
Diego. 

On  reaching  the  Pacific,  your  first  duty  will  be  to  ascertain  if  these  orders 
have  been  carried  into  effect.  If  not,  you  will  take  immediate  possession  of 
Upper  California,  especially  of  the  three  ports  of  San  Francisco,  Monterey,  and 


APPENDIX.  257 

San  Diego,  so  that  if  the  treaty  of  peace  shall  be  made  on  the  basis  of  the  uti 
possidetis,  it  may  leave  California  to  the  United  States. 

The  relations  to  be  maintained  with  the  people  of  Upper  California  are  to  be 
as  friendly  as  possible.  The  flag  of  the  United  States  must  be  raised,  but  under 
it  the  people  are  to  be  allowed  as  much  liberty  of  self-government  as  is  consist 
ent  with  the  general  occupation  of  the  country  by  the  United  States.  You,  as 
commander-in-chief  of  the  squadron,  may  exercise  the  right  to  interdict  the  en 
trance  of  any  vessel  or  articles  that  would  be  unfavourable  to  our  success  in  the 
war  into  any  of  the  enemy's  ports  which  you  may  occupy.  With  this  excep 
tion,  all  United  States  vessels  and  merchandise  must  be  allowed,  by  the  local 
authorities  of  the  ports  of  which  you  take  possession,  to  come  and  go  free  of 
duty ;  but  on  foreign  vessels  and  goods  reasonable  duties  may  be  imposed, 
collected,  and  disposed  of  by  the  local  authorities,  under  your  general  superin 
tendence. 

A  military  force  has  been  directed  by  the  Secretary  of  War  to  proceed  to  the 
western  coast  of  California  for  the  purpose  of  co-operation  with  the  navy,  in 
taking  possession  of  and  holding  the  ports  and  positions  which  have  been  speci 
fied,  and  for  otherwise  operating  against  Mexico. 

A  detachment  of  these  troops,  consisting  of  a  company  of  artillery  under 
command  of  Captain  Tompkins,  has  sailed  in  the  United  States  ship  Lexington. 
A  regiment  of  volunteers,  under  Colonel  Stevenson,  will  soon  sail  from  New 
York,  and  a  body  of  troops  under  Brigadier-general  Kearny  may  reach  the 
coast  over  Santa  Fe.  Copies  of  so  much  of  the  instructions  to  Captain  Tomp 
kins  and  General  Kearny  as  relates  to  objects  requiring  co-operation  are  herewith 
enclosed. 

By  article  6  of  the  General  Regulations  for  the  Army,  (edition  of  1825,) 
which  is  held  by  the  War  Department  to  be  still  in  force,  and  of  which  I  enclose 
you  a  copy,  your  commission  places  you,  in  point  of  precedence,  on  occasions  of 
ceremony  or  upon  meetings  for  consultation,  in  the  class  of  major-general ;  but 
no  officer  of  the  army  or  navy,  whatever  may  be  his  rank,  can  assume  any  direct 
command,  independent  of  consent,  over  an  officer  of  the  other  service,  excepting 
only  when  land  forces  are  especially  embarked  in  vessels  of  war  to  do  the  duty 
of  marines. 

The  President  expects  and  requires,  however,  the  most  cordial  and  effectual  co 
operation  between  the  officers  of  the  two  services,  in  taking  possession  of  and 
holding  the  ports  and  positions  of  the  enemy,  which  are  designated  in  the  in 
structions  to  either  or  both  branches  of  the  service,  and  will  hold  any  commander 
of  either  branch  to  a  strict  responsibility  for  any  failure  to  preserve  harmony  and 
secure  the  objects  proposed. 

The  land  forces  which  have  been,  or  will  be  sent  to  the  Pacific,  may  be  de 
pendent  upon  the  vessels  of  your  squadron  for  transportation  from  one  point  to 
another,  and  for  shelter  and  protection  in  case  of  being  compelled  to  abandon 
positions  on  the  coast.  It  may  be  necessary  also  to  furnish  transportation  for 
their  supplies,  or  to  furnish  the  supplies  themselves,  by  the  vessels  under  your 
direction. 

In  all  such  cases  you  will  furnish  all  the  assistance  in  your  power  which  will 
not  interfere  with  objects  that,  in  your  opinion,  are  of  greater  importance. 

You  will,  taking  care,  however,  to  advise  with  any  land  officer  of  high  rank 
(say  of  the  rank  of  brigadier-general)  who  may  be  at  hand,  make  the  necessary 
regulations  for  the  ports  that  may  be  occupied. 

Having  provided  for  the  full  possession  of  Upper  California,  the  next  point  of 
Y2  17 


258  APPENDIX. 

importance  is  the  Gulf  of  California.  From  the  best  judgment  I  can  form,  you 
should  take  possession  of  the  port  of  Gaaymas.  The  progress  of  our  arms  will 
probably  be  such,  that  in  conjunction  with  land  forces  you  will  be  able  to  hold 
possession  of  Guaymas,  and  so  to  reduce  all  the  country  north  of  it  on  the  gulf. 

As  to  the  ports  south  of  it,  especially  Mazatlan  and  Acapulco,  it  is  not  possible 
to  give  you  special  instructions.  Generally,  you  will  take  possession  of,  or 
blockade,  according  to  your  best  judgment,  all  Mexican  ports,  as  far  as  your 
means  allow  ;  but  south  of  Guaymas,  if  the  provinces  rise  up  against  the  central 
government,  and  manifest  friendship  towards  the  United  States,  you  may,  ac 
cording  to  your  discretion,  enter  into  a  temporary  agreement  of  neutrality.  But 
this  must  be  done  only  on  condition  that  our  ships  have  free  access  to  their  ports, 
and  equal  commercial  rights  with  those  of  other  nations ;  that  you  are  allowed 
to  take  in  water  and  fuel ;  to  purchase  supplies  ;  to  go  to  and  from  shore  without 
obstruction,  as  in  time  of  peace  ;  and  that  the  provinces  which  are  thus  neutral 
shall  absolutely  abstain  from  contributing  towards  the  continuance  of  the  war  by 
the  central  government  of  Mexico  against  the  United  States. 

Generally,  you  will  exercise  the  rights  of  a  belligerent,  and  bear  in  mind  that 
the  greater  advantages  you  obtain,  the  more  speedy  and  the  more  advantageous 
will  be  the  peace. 

Should  Commodore  Biddle  be  in  the  Pacific,  off  the  shores  of  Mexico,  at  the 
time  you  arrive  there,  you  will  report  yourself  to  him ;  and  as  long  as  he  remains 
off  the  coast  of  Mexico,  you  will  act  under  his  direction  in  concert  with  him, 
communicating  to  him  these  instructions. 

The  Savannah,  the  Warren,  and  the  Levant  ought  soon  to  return.  If  you 
hear  of  peace  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  you  will  at  once  send 
them  home. 

If  war  continues,  you  will  send  them  home  singly,  or  in  company,  at  the 
earliest  day  they  can  be  spared.  The  Savannah  will  go  to  New  York,  and  the 
Warren  and  Levant  to  Norfolk. 

Very  respectfully,  yours, 

GEORGE  BANCROFT. 

Com.  W.  B.  SHUBRICK, 

Appointed  to  command  the  U.  S.  naval  forces  in  the  Pacific  ocean. 


No.  12. 

[CONFIDENTIAL.]  UNITED  STATES  NAVY  DEPARTMENT, 

Washington,  November  5,  1846. 

COMMODORE  :  Commodore  Sloat  has  arrived  in  this  city,  and  delivered  your 
letter  of  the  28th  July  ult.,  with  the  copy  of  your  address  to  the  people  of  Cali 
fornia,  which  accompanied  it  The  department  is  gratified  that  you  joined  the 
squadron  before  the  state  of  the  commodore's  health  rendered  it  necessary  for  him 
to  relinquish  his  important  command. 

The  difficulties  and  embarrassments  of  the  command,  without  a  knowledge 
of  the  proceedings  of  Congress  on  the  subject  of  the  war  with  Mexico,  and  in 
the  absence  of  the  instructions  of  the  department,  which  followed  these  proceed 
ings,  are  justly  appreciated ;  and  it  fa  highly  gratifying  that  so  much  has  been 
done  in  anticipation  of  the  orders  which  have  been  transmitted. 

You  will,  without  doubt,  have  received  the  despatches  of  the  15th  of  May  last, 
addressed  to  Commodore  Sloat ;  and  I  now  send  you,  for  your  guidance,  a  copy 


APPENDIX.  259 

of  instructions  to  Commodore  Shubrick  of  the  17th  of  August.  He  sailed  early  in 
September,  in  the  razee  Independence,  with  orders  to  join  the  squadron  with 
the  least  possible  delay.  On  his  assuming  the  command,  you  may  hoist  a  red 
pennant.  If  you  prefer,  you  may  hoist  your  pennant  on  the  Savannah,  and 
return  home  with  her  and  the  Warren. 

The  existing  war  with  Mexico  has  been  commenced  by  her.  Every  disposition 
was  felt  and  manifested  by  the  United  States  government  to  procure  redress  for  the 
injuries  of  which  we  complained,  and  to  settle  all  complaints  on  her  part,  in  the 
spirit  of  peace  and  of  justice  which  has  ever  characterized  our  intercourse  with 
foreign  nations.  That  disposition  still  exists ;  and  whenever  the  authorities  of 
Mexico  shall  manifest  a  willingness  to  adjust  unsettled  points  of  controversy  be 
tween  the  two  republics,  and  to  restore  an  honourable  peace,  they  will  be  met 
in  a  corresponding  spirit. 

This  consummation  is  not  to  be  expected,  nor  is  our  national  honour  to  be 
maintained,  without  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war  on  our  part.  Without 
being  animated  by  any  ambitious  spirit  of  conquest,  our  naval  and  military  forces 
must  hold  the  ports  and  territory  of  the  enemy,  of  which  possession  has  been 
obtained  by  their  arms.  You  will,  therefore,  under  no  circumstances,  voluntarily 
lower  the  flag  of  the  United  States,  or  relinquish  the  actual  possession  of  Upper 
California.  Of  other  points  of  the  Mexican  territory,  which  the  forces  under  your 
command  may  occupy,  you  will  maintain  the  possession' or  withdraw,  as  in  your 
judgment  may  be  most  advantageous  in  the  prosecution  of  the  war. 

In  regard  to  your  intercourse  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  country,  your  views  are 
judicious  and  you  will  conform  to  the  instructions  heretofore  given.  You  will 
exercise  the  rights  of  a  belligerent ;  and  if  you  find  that  the  liberal  policy  of  our 
government,  in  purchasing  and  paying  for  required  supplies,  is  misunderstood, 
and  its  exercise  is  injurious  to  the  public  interest,  you  are  at  liberty  to  take  them 
from  the  enemy  without  compensation,  or  pay  such  prices  as  may  be  deemed  just 
and  reasonable.  The  best  policy  in  this  respect  depends  on  a  knowledge  of  cir 
cumstances  in  which  you  are  placed,  and  is  left  to  your  discretion. 

The  Secretary  of  War  has  ordered  Col.  R.  B.  Mason,  1st  United  States  dra 
goons,  to  proceed  to  California,  via  Panama,  who  will  command  the  troops  and 
conduct  the  military  operations  in  the  Mexican  territory  bordering  on  the  Pacific, 
in  the  absence  of  Brigadier-general  Kearny.  The  commander  of  the  naval  forces 
will  consult  and  co-operate  with  him  in  his  command  to  the  same  extent  as  if 
he  held  a  higher  rank  in  the  army.  In  all  questions  of  relative  rank,  he  is  to  be 
regarded  as  having  only  the  rank  of  colonel. 

The  President  has  deemed  it  best  for  the  public  interests  to  invest  the  military 
officer  commanding  with  the  direction  of  the  operations  on  land  and  with  the 
administrative  functions  of  government  over  the  people  and  territory  occupied  by 
us.  You  will  relinquish  to  Colonel  Mason,  or  to  General  Kearny,  if  the  latter 
shall  arrive  before  you  have  done  so,  the  entire  control  over  these  matters,  and 
turn  over  to  him  all  papers  necessary  to  the  performance  of  his  duties.  If  officers 
of  the  navy  are  employed  in  the  performance  of  civil  or  military  duties,  you  will 
withdraw  or  continue  them,  at  your  discretion,  taking  care  to  put  them  to  their 
appropriate  duty  in  the  squadron,  if  the  army  officer  commanding  does  not  wish 
their  services  on  land. 

The  establishment  of  port  regulations  is  a  subject  over  which  it  is  deemed  by 
the  President  most  appropriate  that  the  naval  commander  shall  exercise  jurisdiction. 
You  will  establish  these,  and  communicate  them  to  the  military  commander,  who 


260  APPENDIX. 

will  carry  them  into  effect  so  far  as  his  co-operation  may  be  necessary,  suggesting 
for  your  consideration  modifications  or  alterations. 

The  regulation  of  the  import  trade  is  also  confided  to  you.  The  conditions 
under  which  vessels  of  our  own  citizens  and  of  neutrals  may  be  admitted  into  ports 
of  the  enemy  in  your  possession  will  be  prescribed  by  you,  subject  to  the  instruc 
tions  heretofore  given.  To  aid  you,  copies  of  instructions  to  the  collectors  in  the 
United  States,  from  the  Treasury  Department,  on  the  same  subject,  are  enclosed. 
On  cargoes  of  neutrals  imported  into  such  ports  you  may  impose  moderate  duties, 
not  greater  in  amount  than  those  collected  in  the  ports  of  the  United  States. 
The  collection  of  these  duties  will  be  made  by  civil  officers,  to  be  appointed,  and 
subject  to  the  same  rules  as  other  persons  charged  with  civil  duties  in  the  country. 
These  appointments  will  be  made  by  the  military  officers,  on  consultation  with 
you. 

The  President  directs  me  to  impress  most  earnestly  on  the  naval  officers,  as  it 
is  impressed  on  those  of  the  army,  the  importance  of  harmony  in  the  performance 
of  their  delicate  duties  while  co-operating.  They  are  arms  of  one  body,  and 
will,  I  doubt  not,  vie  with  each  other  in  showing  which  can  render  the  most 
efficient  aid  to  the  other  in  the  execution  of  common  orders,  and  in  sustaining 
the  national  honour,  which  is  confided  to  both. 

You  will  make  your  communications  to  the  department  as  frequent  as  possible. 

The  great  distance  at  which  your  command  is  placed,  and  the  impossibility  of 
maintaining  a  frequent  or  regular  communication  with  you,  necessarily  induce 
the  department  to  leave  much  of  the  details  of  your  operations  to  your  discretion. 
The  confident  belief  is  entertained,  that,  with  the  general  outline  given  in  the 
instructions,  you  will  pursue  a  course  which  will  make  the  enemy  sensible  of  our 
power  to  inflict  on  them  the  evils  of  war,  while  it  will  secure  to  the  United  States, 
if  a  definitive  treaty  of  peace  shall  give  us  California,  a  population  impressed 
with  our  justice,  grateful  for  our  clemency,  and  prepared  to  love  our  institutions 
and  to  honour  our  flag. 

On  your  being  relieved  in  the  command  of  the  squadron,  you  will  hand  your 
instructions  to  the  officer  relieving  you. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  Y.  MASON. 
Commodore  R.  F.  STOCKTON, 
Commanding  United  Slates  naval  forces  on  the  west  coast  of  Mexico. 


ADDENDA. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  Washington,  January  11,  1847. 

SIR  :  Your  communication  from  Santa  Fe,  of  the  22d  of  September,  accom 
panied  by  a  copy  of  the  laws  prepared  for  the  government  of  New  Mexico,  and 
established  in  that  Territory,  was  received  at  this  Department  on  the  23d  of  No 
vember  last. 

Soon  after  the  meeting  of  Congress  the  President  was  called  on  by  a  resolution 
of  the  House  of  Representatives  for  the  orders  and  instructions  issued  to  the 
officers  of  the  army  and  navy  by  him  for  the  civil  government  of  the  territories 
which  had  been  or  might  be  acquired  by  our  arms.  I  herewith  send  you  a  copy 
of  the  President's  message,  with  the  documents,  sent  to  Congress  in  answer  to 


APPENDIX.  261 

that  resolution.     By  this  you  will  learn  the  President's  views  as  to  the  power  and 
authority  to  be  exercised  in  the  territories  conquered  and  occupied  by  our  forces. 

These  views  are  presented  more  in  detail  in  instructions  prepared  under  his 
directions  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  bearing  date  this  day,  an  extract  of 
which  is  herewith  transmitted  for  your  information,  and  particularly  for  the  guid 
ance  of  your  conduct.  This  document  is  so  full  and  clear  on  all  points,  in 
regard  to  which  you  may  desire  the  directions  of.  the  Government,  that  I  do  not 
deem  it  necessary  to  enlarge  upon  it. 

It  is  proper  to  remark  that  the  provisions  of  the  laws  which  have  been  esta 
blished  for  the  government  of  the  Territory  of  New  Mexico  go,  in  some  few 
respects,  beyond  the  line  designated  by  the  President,  and  propose  to  confer  upon 
the  people  of  that  Territory  political  rights  under  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States.  Such  rights  can  only  be  acquired  by  the  action  of  Congress.  So  far  as 
the  code  of  laws  established  in  New  Mexico  by'  your  authority  attempts  to  confer 
such  rights,  it  is  not  approved  by  the  President,  and  he  directs  me  to  instruct  you 
not  to  carry  such  parts  into  effect. 

Under  the  law  of  nations  the  Power  conquering  a  territory  or  country  has  a 
right  to  establish  a  civil  Government  within  the  same,  as  a  means  of  securing  the 
conquest,  and  with  a  view  to  protecting  the  persons  and  property  of  the  people ; 
and  it  is  not  intended  to  limit  you  in  the  full  exercise  of  this  authority.  Indeed, 
it  is  desired  you  should  exercise  it  in  such  a  manner  as  to  inspire  confidence  in 
the  people  that  our  power  is  to  be  firmly  sustained  in  that  country.  The  terri 
tory  in  our  military  occupation,  acquired  from  the  enemy  by  our  arms,  cannot  be 
regarded,  the  war  still  continuing,  as  permanently  annexed  to  the  United  States, 
though  our  authority  to  exercise  civil  government  over  it  is  not  by  that  circum 
stance  the  least  restricted. 

It  is  important  that  the  extent  and  character  of  our  possession  in  the  territories 
conquered  from  the  enemy  should  not  be  open  to  question  or  cavil.  This  remark, 
though  having  reference  to  all  our  acquisitions,  is  in  an  especial  manner  applicable 
to  the  Californias.  As  to  Upper  California,  it  is  presumed  no  doubt  can  arise, 
but  it  may  not  be  so  clear  as  to  Lower  California.  It  is  expected  that  our  flag 
will  be  hoisted  in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  actual  possession  taken  and  con 
tinuously  held  of  some  place  or  places  in  it,  and  our  civil  jurisdiction  there 
asserted  and  upheld. 

A  copy  of  this  communication  will  be  sent  to  the  commanding  officer  at  Santa 
Fe,  with  instructions  to  conform  his  conduct  to  the  views  herein  presented. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  L.  MARCY,  Secretary  of  War. 

Brig.  Gen.  S.  W.  KEARNY, 

Commanding  U.  8.  Army  in  California,  Mexico. 


[CONFIDENTIAL.]  NAVY  DEPARTMENT, 

January  11,  1847. 

SIR  :  Your  communications,  dated  at  Monterey  on  the  18th  and  19th  of  Sep 
tember,  were  received  at  the  Department  on  the  26th  December  ultimo,  by  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Norris,  whose  activity  and  intelligence  in  executing  his  orders  en 
title  him  to  my  thanks. 

You  will  probably  have  received  before  this  can  reach  you  my  despatches, 
which  were  intrusted  to  Lieut.  Watson,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  under  date 


263  APPENDIX. 


of  the  5th  of  November,  in  which,  as  Commander-in-chief  of  the  United  States 
naval  forces  in  the  Pacific,  you  were  informed  that  the  President  "  has  deemed  it 
best  for  the  public  interests  to  invest  the  military  officer  commanding  with  the 
direction  of  the  operations  on  land,  and  with  the  administrative  functions  of 
government  over  the  people  and  territory  occupied  by  us." 

Accompanying  this,  I  send  you  copies  of  the  President's  annual  message 
transmitted  to  Congress  on  the  8th  of  December  ultimo,  with  the  accompanying 
documents,  including  the  reports  of  the  War  and  Navy  Departments.  I  also 
send  you  a  printed  copy  of  the  document  No.  19  of  the  House  of  Representa 
tives. 

You  will  perceive  from  these  papers  the  view  taken  by  the  Executive  of  the 
measures  which  have  been  adopted  by  the  military  and  naval  commanders  in 
those  States  of  Mexico  of  which  we  have  acquired  possession  by  military  conquest 

I  see  no  reason  to  qualify  the  opinion  which  I  expressed  in  my  report,  that 
«  your  measures  in  regard  to  the  conquered  territory  are  telieved  to  be  warranted 
by  the  laws  of  war."  And,  in  answer  to  your  suggestion  that  "  a  general  ap 
proval  by  the  Government  of  the  United  States  of  your  conduct,  if  they  do 
approve,  to  be  published  in  the  Californian,  would  have  a  good  effect,"  I  have 
been  directed  by  the  President  to  communicate  a  more  full  statement  of  his  views 
of  the  principles  which  govern  the  conduct  of  our  officers  in  the  circumstances 
in  which  you  have  been  placed,  and  on  which  the  instructions  heretofore  given 
were  based. 

By  the  constitution  of  the  United  States  the  power  to  declare  war  is  vested  in 
Congress.  The  war  with  Mexico  exists  by  her  own  act  and  the  declaration  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  Executive  to  carry  on 
the  war  with  all  the  rights  and  subject  to  all  the  duties  imposed  by  the  laws  of 
nations — a  code  binding  on  both  belligerents. 

The  possession  of  portions  of  the  enemy's  territory,  acquired  by  justifiable  acts 
of  war,  gives  to  us  the  right  of  government  during  the  continuance  of  our  pos 
session,  and  imposes  on  us  a  duty  to  the  inhabitants  who  are  thus  placed  under 
our  dominion.  The  right  of  possession,  however,  is  temporary,  unless  made 
absolute  by  subsequent  events.  If,  being  in  possession,  a  treaty  of  peace  is  made 
and  duly  ratified,  on  the  principle  of  uti  possidetis,  that  is,  that  each  of  the  belli 
gerent  parties  shall  enjoy  the  territory  of  which  it  shall  be  in  possession  at  the 
date  of  the  treaty,  or  if  the  surrender  of  the  territory  is  not  stipulated  in  the 
treaty  so  ratified,  then  the  imperfect  title,  acquired  by  conquest,  is  made  absolute, 
and  the  inhabitants,  with  the  territory,  are  entitled  to  all  the  benefits  of  the  federal 
constitution  of  the  United  States,  to  the  same  extent  as  the  citizens  of  any  other 
part  of  the  Union. 

The  course  of  our  Government  in  regard  to  California,  or  other  portions  of  the 
territory  of  Mexico  now  or  hereafter  to  be  in  our  possession  by  conquest,  depends 
on  those  on  whom  the  constitution  imposes  the  duty  of  making  and  carrying 
treaties  into  effect.  Pending  the  war,  our  possession  gives  only  such  rights  as 
the  laws  of  nations  recognise,  and  the  government  is  military,  performing  such 
civil  duties  as  are  necessary  to  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  advantages  resulting 
from  the  conquest,  and  to  the  due  protection  of  the  rights  of  persons  and  of  pro 
perty  of  the  inhabitants. 

No  political  right  can  be  conferred  on  the  inhabitants  thus  situated,  emanating 
from  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  That  instrument  establishes  a  form 
of  government  for  those  who  are  within  our  limits  and  owe  voluntary  allegiance 
to  it.  Unless  incorporated,  with  the  assent  of  Congress,  by  ratified  treaty,  or  by 


APPENDIX.  263 

^^'*^>**^*^*^^*s*s*^^*<*^^ 

legislative  act,  as  in  the  case  of  Texas,  our  rights  over  enemies'  territory  in  our 
possession  are  only  such  as  the  laws  of  war  confer,  and  theirs  no  more  than  are 
derived  from  the  same  authority.  They  are  therefore  entitled  to  no  representa 
tion  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 

Without  anticipating  what  may  be  the  terms  of  a  treaty  which  it  is  hoped 
will  be  entered  into  between  the  two  Republics,  there  will  be  no  revocation  of  the 
orders,  given  in  my  despatch  on  the  5th  of  November  last,  that  «  under  no  cir 
cumstances  will  you  voluntarily  lower  the  flag  of  the  United  States,  or  relinquish 
the  actual  possession  of  California,"  with  all  the  rights  which  it  confers. 

In  the  discharge  of  the  duty  of  government  in  the  conquered  territory  during 
our  military  possession,  it  has  not  been  deemed  improper  or  unwise  that  the  in 
habitants  should  be  permitted  to  participate  in  the  selection  of  agents  to  make  or 
execute  the  laws  to  be  enforced.  Such  a  privilege  cannot  fail  to  produce  amelio 
rations  of  the  despotic  character  of  martial  law,  and  constitute  checks,  voluntarily 
and  appropriately  submitted  to  by  officers  of  the  United  States,  all  whose  in 
stitutions  are  based  on  the  will  of  the  governed. 

I  have  regarded  your  measures,  in  authorizing  the  election  of  agents  charged 
with  making  laws,  or  in  executing  them,  as  founded  on  this  principle,  and  so  far 
as  they  carry  out  the  right  of  temporary  government,  under  existing  rights  of 
possession,  they  are  approved.  But  no  officers  created,  or  laws  or  regulations 
made  to  protect  the  rights  or  perform  the  duties  resulting  from  our  conquests,  can 
lawfully  continue  beyond  the  duration  of  the  state  of  things  which  now  exists, 
without  authority  of  future  treaty  or  act  of  Congress. 

At  present  it  is  needless,  and  might  be  injurious  to  the  public  interest,  to  agi 
tate  the  question  in  California  as  to  how  long  those  persons  who  have  been 
elected  for  a  prescribed  period  of  time  will  have  official  authority.  If  our  right 
of  possession  shall  become  absolute,  such  an  inquiry  is  needless,  and  if,  by  treaty 
or  otherwise,  we  lose  the  possession,  those  who  follow  us  will  govern  the  country. 
The  President,  however,  anticipates  no  such  result.  On  the  contrary,  he  foresees 
no  contingency  in  which  the  United  States  will  ever  surrender  or  relinquish  the 
possession  of  the  Californias. 

The  number  of  official  appointments  with  civil  or  military  duties,  other  than 
those  devolved  on  our  army  and  navy  by  our  own  laws,  should  be  made  as  small 
as  possible,  and  the  expenses  of  the  local  government  should  be  kept  within  the 
limits  of  the  revenues  received  in  the  Territory,  if  it  can  be  done  without  detri 
ment  to  the  public  interest. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant,  J.  Y.  MASON. 

Commodore  R.  F.  STOCKTON, 

Commanding  U.  £  Naval  forces  west  coast  of  Mexico. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER,  DATED 

PtrEBlA  BBS  LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA,  June  22,   1847. 

DEAR  SIR  :  The  ship  Loo  Choo,  one  of  the  transports  that  brought  out  a  por 
tion  of  the  New  York  regiment,  being  about  to  return  home,  I  avail  myself  of  the 
opportunity  to  write  a  few  lines. 

Since  the  departure  of  Gen.  Kearny,  who  left  some  weeks  ago  for  the  United 
States,  little  of  importance  has  transpired  here.  The  country  now,  as  then,  is 
perfectly  tranquil,  and  there  is  nothing  to  indicate  a  change  of  this  desirable  state 
of  things,  unless  it  be  for  the  better.  Some  of  the  Californians  who  left  their 
homes  for  Sonora,  are  returning  here.  They  give  deplorable  representations  of 


264  APPENDIX. 

the  condition  of  that  country.  I  am  advised  by  those  who  hare  come  in,  that 
many  families,  respectable  residents  of  Sonora,  are  making  arrangements  to  re 
move  to  California,  and  from  a  conviction  that  they  will  be  sure  of  a  permanent 
and  good  government  under  the  American  flag,  and  under  the  full  belief  that 
Mexico  cannot  extend  to  them  aid  and  protection,  and  that  farther  persistence  in 
rebellion  will  be  unavailing. 

Another  reason  for  their  acquiescence  in  a  state  of  things  which  they  cannot 
prevent,  deserves  to  be  mentioned  in  justice  to  the  volunteers.  The  conduct  of 
our  troops  since  they  set  foot  here  has  been  such  as  to  inspire  the  Californians 
with  respect  and  confidence  towards  them  and  the  nation  of  which  they  are,  as  it 
were,  the  representatives.  This  confidence  and  good  feeling  are  manifested  in  a 
thousand  ways  which  I  have  not  the  space  to  particularize.  It  is  enough  to  say, 
that  they  seize  upon  every  opportunity  to  avail  themselves  of  the  mechanical  skill 
and  ingenuity  of  the  troops,  when  they  are  at  liberty  to  engage  in  their  wonted 
avocations  at  home ;  and  at  such  times  the  troops  have  as  much  employment 
from  the  native  inhabitants  as  they  desire  or  can  attend  to. 

We  have  now  at  this  post  nearly  completed  a  strong  fortress.  It  has  been 
erected  by  the  troops  on  a  hill  that  commands  the  town  and  the  surrounding 
country.  This,  of  course,  will  effectually  suppress  any  attempt  at  insurrection, 
as  every  effort  must  inevitably  involve  all  engaged  in  it  in  a  common  calamity. 

The  Mormon  force  here  and  at  San  Diego  consists  of  about  360  men.  Their 
term  of  service  expires  on  the  17th  of  July.  They  have  been  invited  to  re-enter 
the  service  for  another  year,  but  at  present  there  is  not  much  prospect  of  their 
doing  so.  This  is  extremely  to  be  regretted,  for  they  are  an  orderly,  quiet,  and 
peaceable  set  of  men,  submitting  without  resistance  or  a  murmur  to  the  severest 
discipline,  and  altogether  a  most  useful  and  efficient  body  of  men. 

The  regiment  of  New  York  volunteers  is  now  very  much  scattered,  being  dis 
tributed  among  different  posts,  from  Sutler's  settlement  on  the  Sacramento  to  La 
Paz  in  Lower  California — a  distance  of  1500  miles.  The  regiment  will  never 
probably  be  together  again  while  in  service.  They  will  dearly  earn  all  they 
receive  from  the  government.  The  hand  of  American  industry  and  enterprise  is 
plainly  to  b«  seen  wherever  our  troops  are  stationed.  Bricks  are  burned,  ovens 
built,  chimneys  erected,  saw-mills  put  into  operation,  and  comfortable  houses 
constructed  wherever  timber  can  be  had. 

Watches  and  clocks,  too,  are  sent  to  these  stations  from  a  distance  of  fifty 
miles,  to  be  repaired ;  cloths  brought  to  be  made  into  clothing ;  leather  to  be 
made  into  boots  and  shoes ;  and  at  one  of  the  posts  a  tannery  has  been  esta 
blished  ;  and  at  Monterey  two  of  the  New  York  volunteers,  who  are  employed 
by  the  commissary,  have  opened  a  stall  at  which  beef,  lamb,  veal,  and  mutton, 
can  be.purchased  dressed  in  Fulton  market  style.  They  are  doing  remarkably 
well,  and  even  the  inhabitants  who  have  been  in  the  habit  of  slaughtering  a 
bullock  in  the  streets  for  their  own  use,  are  abandoning  the  habit  and  patronizing 
the  New  York  butchers. 

These  are  specimens  of  what  is  going  forward  here  in  the  way  of  civilization 
and  improvement  under  the  sway  of  the  United  States  government  and  its  arms. 
All  can  do  well  here  who  choose  to  help  themselves  and  become  useful.  But  I 
have  no  more  time  to  write. 

THE    END. 


